By: Tadgh McGinty
Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool
Milan Pavkov began his first Champions League start with two goals inside of 29 minutes which were his first in European football to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side to a third successive away defeat in the competition for the very first time.
Daniel Sturridge missed a gilt-edged chance to fire the visitors into an early lead, and Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah saw efforts strike the woodwork in the second half, but Pavkov’s double sealed Red Star their first win of the campaign, and first ever in the Champions League proper.
Red Star Manager Vladan Milojevic ramped up the importance of the game not only to his side but the Serbian nation ahead of kick-off. It was clear that message resonated with his players. Only the domineering physical presence of Virgil van Dijk prevented Red Star, buoyed by a partisan home crowd, from applying relentless pressure in a testing opening spell for the visitors.
Marko Marin and Red Star captain Vudajin Savic were able to get shots away on Alisson’s goal before the quarter-hour mark, yet for all of their dominance, the first clear chance fell to Liverpool. Sadio Mane’s cutback was helped on by Adam Lallana to Sturridge at the back post, but the forward, restored to the starting line-up, failed to vindicate his selection as he blazed over from six yards.
Tottenham Vs. PSV
The Spurs needed a result Tuesday evening to keep them in the hunt for the next round but were dealt a blow early on when Luuk de Jong scored after just 61 seconds. Tottenham pressed hard for their equalizer and were rewarded in the 78th minute as Harry Kane swept home before nodding in the winner 11 minutes later, with his shot taking a deflection off Trent Sainsbury on the way through.
Tottenham remains third in Group B with four points after Inter and Barcelona drew 1-1, while PSV remains bottom with just one point. PSV took the lead inside two minutes, and it was captain De Jong with the goal. Gaston Pereiro delivered a corner, and after getting away from Dele Alli, the PSV striker rose highest to nod home Paolo Gazzaniga.
Jeroen Zoet had little to do in the opening 20 minutes but was soon called into action as Lucas Moura burst down the field before a sliding tackle from Nick Viergever tried to stop him. But the loose ball was once again Moura’s, with his shot blocked by the body of the goalkeeper before PSV got the ball clear.
The Netherlands’ international made a superb double save in the 28th minute as Alli’s great cross found Eriksen, but what looked to be a simple tap-in was saved by the legs of Zoet. The rebound fell to Alli, but again, the goalkeeper was there to push the ball away.
Tottenham continued to press for an equalizer in the second half but had fewer clear-cut chances. Indeed, it was PSV who went close in the 58th minute as Pereiro headed a corner towards goal, but Gazzaniga leaped to keep it out.
Spurs deservedly got their equalizer with 12 minutes to play. Kane collected a long pass in the area and played a neat one-two with substitute Fernando Llorente before sweeping home past Zoet. The Tottenham captain helped force the winner in the 89th minute to give the Spurs a vital three points in their Champions League campaign. He nodded as Ben Davies crossed towards the goal, with the ball taking a deflection off the elbow of Sainsbury on the way through to beat Zoet and give the hosts the victory.
Napoli Vs. PSG
Lorenzo Insigne scored a second-half penalty shot goal to ensure that Napoli & PSG played out a feisty 1-1 draw Tuesday evening. The Parisians opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when Kylian Mbappé went on a surging run, eventually picking out Juan Bernat with the Spanish wing-back poking the ball home from close range.
Napoli upped the pressure in the second half and fairly won a penalty when José Callejón was bundled down in the box. Lorenzo Insigne stepped up and smashed his shot into the bottom left-hand corner past veteran keeper Gigi Buffon. The Italians pushed for a winner but were denied at the very end. The result pushes the Neopolitans into the top spot of Group C, while PSG remains in third place.
Barcelona Vs. Inter Milan
Needing a victory to confirm their passage to the last 16 as group winners, Malcom gave Ernesto Valverde’s side, who was still without the injured Lionel Messi, the lead minutes after coming on as a substitute. Inter Milan captain Icardi capitalized on some poor defending from Barca to equalize just four minutes later, leaving the visitors waiting to secure top spot in Group B.
Barcelona, who were unbeaten in their last 11 group stage games in the Champions League going into the match, started confidently as Inter needed Samir Handanovic to keep out Ousmane Dembele’s powerful attack in the second minute.
The visitors dominated possession with Inter always looking to counter, and they almost broke the deadlock when Ivan Perisic’s low cross picked out Kwadwo Asamoah, but the defender failed to hit the target from close range.
Barca was looking the more likely side to break the deadlock though, and they should have been in front in the 31st minute. Inter failed to clear Dembele’s corner, and Gerard Pique kept the ball alive, knocking it down to Luis Suarez, who sliced wide from a tight angle. Philippe Coutinho then forced an excellent save from Handanovic, who also kept out a first-time effort from Suarez to keep the scores level at the break.
Barcelona continued to dominate after the break and Handanovic made his best save just before the hour mark, blocking Ivan Rakitic’s goalbound shot, but he was blameless for Malcom’s opener.
The Brazilian has not featured much for Barca since signing from Bordeaux in the summer, but he made an instant impact after replacing Dembele, controlling a pass from Coutinho before powering the ball under the diving Handanovic for his first goal for the club.
