Champions League round-up: Madrid in dramatic comeback, lucky 13 for Bayern – Newstrends
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Champions League round-up: Madrid in dramatic comeback, lucky 13 for Bayern

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There was plenty more late drama on the opening night of UEFA Champions League Match Day 2 (Tuesday 27 October 2020).

Group A

Lokomotiv Moskva 1-2 Bayern

Joshua Kimmich scored 11 minutes from time to give the holders a hard-earned win in the Russian capital. Leon Goretzka’s header had secured Bayern an early lead, but the hosts offered up stubborn resistance and were briefly level again after Anton Miranchuk struck midway through the second half.

Key stat: This was Bayern’s 13th straight UEFA Champions League win.

03/11: Lokomotiv Moskva vs Atlético, Salzburg vs Bayern

Atlético 3-2 Salzburg

João Félix left it late to net Atlético three points and stave off a spirited Salzburg. The Portugal forward linked up with Luis Suárez to round the goalkeeper and score Atlético’s third just five minutes from time.

Dominik Szoboszlai had cancelled out Marcos Llorente’s opener, before Felipe’s own goal put the visitors ahead moments after half-time.

However, João Félix’s subsequent double sealed the win.

Key stat: João Félix has been involved in six goals in his last seven Champions League games for Atlético (five goals, one assist).

03/11: Lokomotiv Moskva vs Atlético, Salzburg vs Bayern

Group B

Shakhtar 0-0 Inter

Shakhtar held a dominant Inter in Kyiv to gain a point. Though it was one-way traffic for much of the contest, Luís Castro’s young side delivered a dogged performance. Lautaro Martínez pulled wide from close range with the best chance of the match, while Romelu Lukaku went close when his free-kick was tipped on to the bar by Anatolii Trubin.

Key stat: This was Shakhtar’s first 0-0 draw in the competition since February 2015.

03/11: Shakhtar vs Mönchengladbach, Real Madrid vs Inter

Mönchengladbach 2-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback to take their first point. Marcus Thuram’s double – one from Alassane Pléa’s pass and another from his parried shot – had the hosts in command until the last three minutes. Then Karim Benzema hooked in and Casemiro converted a header across goal by Sergio Ramos to prise a draw for Zinédine Zidane’s side.

Key stat: This was Madrid’s first draw in 19 Champions League away games.

03/11: Shakhtar vs Mönchengladbach, Real Madrid vs Inter

Group C

Porto clinched their first win of the campaign as Fábio Vieira capitalised on uncertain defending to notch an early opener with his first Champions League goal on his second outing. Agustín Marchesín saved from Lazar Ranđelović as Olympiacos threatened a share of the spoils, before Sérgio Oliveira’s late header rubber-stamped the victory.

Key stat: Porto have won their last six Champions League group home matches.

03/11: Man. City vs Olympiacos, Porto vs Marseille

Marseille 0-3 Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne starred on his full return to the City starting XI, contributing two assists in a routine win for the Premier League team. Ferrán Torres opened the scoring 18 minutes in, before quick-fire strikes from İlkay Gündoğan and Raheem Sterling late in the second half wrapped up three points for Josep Guardiola’s men.

Key stat: City secured their first European win in France in five attempts.

03/11: Man. City vs Olympiacos, Porto vs Marseille

Group D

Atalanta 2-2 Ajax

Duván Zapata scored twice in seven minutes as Atalanta fought back from two down to draw with Ajax. Dušan Tadić had given the visitors the lead from the spot after Robin Gosens fouled Lassina Traoré in the area.

Traoré then doubled that advantage after Marco Sportiello spilled a cross, but Zapata hit back in style, heading his first before blasting in a second.

Key stat: Zapata is the 2020/21 Champions League top scorer with three goals.

03/11: Midtjylland vs Ajax, Atalanta vs Liverpool

Liverpool 2-0 Midtjylland

Diogo Jota’s close-range strike and Mohamed Salah’s late penalty ensured Liverpool kept up their winning start. Midtjylland’s Anders Dreyer came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock. However, the Reds edged in front soon after the interval, Jota converting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross, with Salah’s spot kick sealing matters.

Key stat: Jota’s opener was Liverpool’s 10,000th goal in all competitions.

03/11: Midtjylland vs Ajax, Atalanta vs Liverpool

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Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match 

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Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday night suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mali in a friendly match played in Marrakech, Morocco.

Mali, ranked 19th below the Super Eagles in the FIFA’s latest standings, opened scoring through Atalanta-based striker El Bilal Toure in the first half after Nigeria’s dreadful error resulting from a short goal kick.

Toure could barely believe his luck when defender Chidozie Awaziem tried to play a long square pass under pressure near the edge of the Nigeria box and succeeded only in crossing the ball straight to the Mali striker.

He controlled well on his chest before bundling a finish past goalkeeper Stanely Nwabali.

Nigeria lost Moses Simon to injury when the Nantes star collided with Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa and had to be substituted after appearing to suffer a painful knee injury.

Kamory Doumbia made it 2-0 for Mali with three minutes to normal regulation time.

Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 last Friday in a positive result for interim coach Finidi George, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

The defeat has left the Super Eagles with a lot of concerns before they resume World Cup qualifying in June.

This was the 12th meeting between Nigeria and Mali. Nigeria have the head-to-head advantage, with six wins and three defeats in those games.

Mali’s most recent previous win over the Super Eagles was a 4-1 friendly victory way back in 1975.

Some key stars missed the friendly match due to injury. They are Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi.

Midfielder Frank Onyeka has also withdrawn from the squad.

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Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen

Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer €90 million for Napoli star striker, Victor Osimhen, according to Italian newspaper, II Mattino.

Osimhen has a release clause of around €120 million in his contract but Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis could accept a bid below that, according to the publication.

Napoli are prepared to part company with the Nigerian at the end of the season despite the forward signing a new contract last December.

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Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG have been persistently linked with a move for the forward.

Intermediaries are reportedly working with the striker’s agent, Roberto Calenda to sort out his future.

Osimhen, who joined Napoli from Ligue 1 club, Lille in 2022, has scored 72 goals in 125 appearances for the Partenopei.

Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

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Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

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Finidi George

Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

Former World Cup star Finidi George is determined to secure a second consecutive win as he leads the Super Eagles in their clash against Mali today. Appointed as the interim coach for the Nigerian team, George aims to maintain the winning momentum after their recent victory over Ghana.

The encounter between the two West African teams is scheduled at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, where the Super Eagles emerged triumphant in their previous match against arch-rivals Ghana with a 2-1 scoreline.

However, George faces challenges as key players such as defender Calvin Bassey and midfielder Frank Onyeka are sidelined due to injuries, adding to the absence of other notable names like Victor Osimhen, William Ekong, and Olaoluwa Aina.

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Despite these setbacks, George remains optimistic about the team’s prospects against Mali. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a winning mentality and expresses confidence in the players’ ability to replicate their performance against Ghana and secure another victory.

Notably, George himself has a history with the Eagles of Mali, having played against them during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria emerged victorious.

In light of the absences and injuries, George may turn to players such as goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins, midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Nathan Tella, Sadiq Umar, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to play prominent roles in the upcoming fixture.

Despite the challenges, Finidi George remains determined to guide the Super Eagles to another triumph as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June.

Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

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