The Champions League is back, and already delivering the drama.
While Tuesday’s Champions League fixtures produced some eyebrow-raising results, Wednesday’s games raised the bar significantly higher, with a momentous night that saw 28 goals scored.
Five-goal thriller at Anfield
Liverpool and AC Milan perhaps had the biggest game of the night with five goals scored between the sides.
In a game that was reminiscent of that great 2005 champions league final, AC Milan returned to the Champions League for the first time in seven years when they played European rivals Liverpool at the Anfield stadium.
The Italians were without Zlatan Ibrahimović who is recovering from an Achilles injury, and they fell a goal down in the 9th minute following a Fikayo Tomori own goal.
Stefano Pioli’s side though remarkably scored two goals in as many minutes to end the first half with a 2-1 lead.
It wasn’t to be their day as Liverpool dug in deep to run out 3-2 winners with goals coming from Mohammed Salah and Jordan Henderson.
It was an entertaining night for spectators, managers and both club sides at the Anfield stadium, as Milan fans were seen applauding their team and also the Liverpool players after the game.
Messi makes PSG debut
It was an anticlimactic scene at the Jan Breydel Stadium, as Club Brugge held a frustrated Paris Saint-Germain F.C. side to a 1-1 draw.
Former Manchester United midfielder, Ander Herrera enjoyed his newfound position as a box-to-box midfielder and got PSG ahead in the 15th minute.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (centre) scores their side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League, Group B match at Anfield, Liverpool.
Peter Byrne
Club Brugge however continuesd to hold on, and eventually bounced back as Hans Vanaken got the equaliser. The Belgian side were well drilled in their approach, disciplined at the back, took their chances and were particularly effective at keeping PSG’s ‘MNM’ trio quiet.
There were high expectations for Lionel Messi in his PSG debut, but the Argentine, on his 150th Champions League appearance was fairly quiet throughout the game, potentially still in the process of gelling with his new teammates. He did have a shot but hit the crossbar and will be hoping for better luck next time out.
Manchester City Statement Win
Pep Guardiola marked his 300th game as the manager of Manchester City with a convincing 6-3 win over RB Leipzig.
Pep will be gunning for another Champions League trophy after losing out on last season’s final to Chelsea, and what better way to begin the campign than a convincing statement win against 10-men RB Leipzig.
RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku scores their side's third goal of the game competing a hat-trick during the UEFA Champions League, Group A match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
Zac Goodwin
Jack Grealish marked his Champions League debut night with a goal and an assist, the first Englishman to do so since Wayne Rooney in September 2004.
The Champions League will resume in two weeks’ time for the second group stage fixtures.
