Wednesday’s game gave us late drama, late goals , a few shock results and had two players seeing red.
GROUP A
Club Brugge v AS Monaco
1-1
In their first European outing under Thierry Henry, Monaco finally earned their first point of the competition this year.
The French club were semifinalists just two seasons ago, but now along with their Belgian opponents they face missing out on the top two places in Group A and their chances of qualification to the knockouts look slim.
In his second match in charge of the Ligue 1 visitors Henry managed to halt his side’s run of five straight defeats, however, the club has now gone 12 games without victory since a win away at Nantes on the French league’s opening day.
18-year-old Moussa Sylla opened the scoring for the Monagasts after a 31st minute counter-attack set up by Russian Aleksandr Golovin.
Luckily for the hosts that lead lasted just eight minutes before their Brazilian striker Wesley equalized with a header from a Hans Vanaken cross, after catching debutant goalkeeper Loic Badiashile out of position. The 20-year-old goalie was Monaco’s fourth in as many matches as the club’s battle with an injury crisis continues, its newest victim being midfielder Stevan Jovetic, who limped off only nine minutes in to Wednesday’s game with a suspected groin injury.
Badiashile‘s counterpart Karlo Letica made a point-blank save in the 72nd minute to keep his side in the fight, before Brugge’s 18-year-old sub Lois Openda missed a sitter with virtually the last touch of the game.
When these two meet again in November they’ll most likely be playing for a spot in the Europa League.
Up Next:
Belgian Pro League
Sint-Truiden v Brugge – Saturday October 27th (2:30pm)
Ligue 1
Monaco v Dijon FCO – Saturday October 27th (2pm)
Champions League
Monaco v Brugge – Tuesday November 6th (12:55pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Atletico Madrid
4-0
Borussia Dortmund cruised past the Spaniards with two goals from substitute Raphael Guerreiro helping to move them top of Group A.
The Germans are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season. They took the lead through Axel Witsel in the 38th minute with a slightly deflected effort. Dortmund timed their second goal to perfection with substitute Guerreiro tapping in from close range from an Achraf Hakimi pass. Hakimi then delivered another assist for another substitute Jadon Sancho to grab Dortmund’s third with his first European goal in the 83rd minute, before Guerreiro completed their victory with his second of the evening six minutes later.
Apart from an effort from Antoine Griezmann, Atletico never threatened in the first half. They did come out battling after the break with Saul Niquez rattling the crossbar in the 52nd minute. He then had another three chances shortly after, edging his side closer to an equalizer, but then came the German’s second goal and the game dynamic changed.
Five minutes after Dortmund’s second goal Atletico hit the woodwork again. The Spanish side came agonizingly close on many occasions but soon had to accept the crushing loss for their first Champions League defeat of the season.
Dortmund, who have yet to concede a goal in the competition, are top with nine points from three games, Atletico are second with six.
Up Next:
Bundesliga
Dortmund v Hertha – Saturday October 27th (9:30am)
La Liga
Atletico v Real Sociedad – Saturday October 27th (2:45pm)
Champions League
Atletico v Dortmund – Tuesday November 6th (3 pm)
GROUP B
PSV Eindhoven v Tottenham Hotspur
2-2
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Tottenham’s chances of reaching the knockout stages are “nearly over” after a game in which he saw his captain, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris sent off for a moment of madness before Luuk de Jong equalized in the 87th minute to deny the visitors a much needed victory.
Lloris raced from his goal and brought down PSV’s Hirving Lozano. Former Newcastle forward de Jong then hit home to leave Spurs without a win, and, like PSV, with just one point from three games.
PSV had taken a first-half lead through a deflected Lozano strike, after the Mexican caught an unaware Toby Alderweireld in possession. But Lucas Moura fired in an equalizer five minutes before the break. Harry Kane then headed home Christian Eriksen‘s cross to give the visitors a lead early in the second half.
Spurs only had themselves to blame as both goals conceded came from a lack of concentration and poor judgment from the players. They did however, endure some misfortune in attack, as Kane headed against the bar in the early stages while Davinson Sanchez saw a goal disallowed with the England captain judged to be in an offside position.
They meet again in London in early November for a must win game for both sides.
Up Next:
Eredivisie
Groningen v PSV – Saturday October 27th (1:45pm)
Premier League
Tottenham v Man City – Monday October 29th (4pm)
Champions League
Tottenham v PSV – Tuesday November 6th (3 pm)
FC Barcelona v Inter Milan
2-0
Barcelona were without the injured Lionel Messi and still managed a convincing 2-0 win at home to Inter Milan, proving that Barcelona is not just about Messi. They now sit comfortably at the top of Group B.
Midfielder Rafinha opened the scoring against the club where he spent the latter half of last season, bursting through the middle and finding Luis Suarez, then beating Icardi with the volley in the 32nd minute.
Spaniard Jordi Alba killed off Inter’s resistance late in the second half with a thumping low finish, breaking the Italian side’s winning streak of seven games in all competitions and sealing a third-straight win in the Champions League.
Barca top Group B with nine points while Inter are second on six. A victory for the Catalans, who are 11-0-3 in their last 14 home matches against Italian Clubs, at the San Siro in a couple of weeks will seal their place in the last 16.
The Spanish Giants host arch rivals Real Madrid in the El Classico on Sunday.
Up Next:
La Liga
Barcelona v Real Madrid – Sunday October 28th (11:15am)
Serie A
Lazio v Inter – Monday October 29th (3:30pm)
Champions League
Inter v Barcelona – Tuesday November 6th ( pm)
GROUP C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
4-0
Mo Salah scored twice to reach 50 total goals for the Reds in a comfortable win over Red Star, as the home side went top of Group C.
It was a dominant performance from Liverpool. Roberto Firmino opened the scoring by firing in Andy Robertson‘s cut-back after 20 minutes. Salah got his first just before the break and then reached his impressive landmark by converting a penalty. Sadio Mane then slotted home their fourth with 10 minutes left, having missed another penalty just moments before.
Aside from the goalscorer, Xherdan Shaqiri proved influential, his excellent through ball to Robertson ended in Firmino‘s opener and he assisted Salah‘s first goal.
The visitors didn’t have many opportunities on goal, Srdan Babic wasted an opportunity from a set-piece when he fired over the bar. Red Star, who sit bottom of the group with just one point from three games, were banned from selling tickets to their supporters for the game at Anfield due to incidents during and after their play-off round tie to RB Salzburg in August.
Liverpool sit top of Group C with 6 points, Napoli sit second with 5 and Red Star are bottom.
Up Next:
Premier League
Liverpool v Cardiff – Saturday October 27th (10am)
Serbian SuperLiga
Mačva Šabac v Red Star – Sunday October 28th (11:30am)
Champions League
Red Star v Liverpool – Tuesday November 6th (12:55 pm)
Paris Saint-Germain v Napoli
2-2
Angel Di Maria saved the day for the big-spending PSG, when it looked like they were facing defeat, the Argentine curled in a delightful shot in 90+3 of stoppage time to rescue the draw.
The Italian visitors went ahead with a Lorenzo Isigne goal in the 29th minute, before PSG equalized when Mário Rui scored an own goal in the 61st.
Dries Mertens put Napoli back in front in the 77th minute for what him and the rest of his team and traveling supporters thought would be the winner, only to see them denied all 3pts by Di Maria after he collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled his stunning effort past David Opsina in stoppage time.
The draw leaves Napoli second with five points from three game and PSG in third with 4. Had PSG not equalized Napoli would be sitting top.
Up Next:
Ligue 1
Marseille v PSG – Sunday October 28th (4pm)
Serie A
Napoli v Roma – Sunday October 28th (3:30pm)
Champions League
Napoli v PSG – Tuesday November 6th (3 pm)
GROUP D
Galatasaray v FC Shalke 04
0-0
Galatasaray missed the chance to overtake Schalke in Group D when they were held to a goalless draw on home turf by the German side.
It was a frustrating night for the Turkish league leaders who struggled to create chances from their dominating possession, with Schalke the more dangerous of the two sides.
The host’s best chance came in the first half when Eren Derdiyok blasted a close-range effort straight at the Bundesliga side’s goalkeeper Alexander Nubel.
The Germans were the better side after the break, forcing Fernando Muslera into a flurry of fine saves. Breel Embolo thought he’d scored for the visitors when he hit the back of the net, only to have it ruled offside.
The draw left Schalke in second place with five points and Galatasaray in third on four. Porto leads Group D with seven.
Up Next:
Süper Lig
Yeni Malatyaspor v Galatasaray – Sunday October 28th (11am)
Bundesliga
RB Leipzig v Schalke – Sunday Oktober 28th (10:30am)
Champions League
Schalke v Galatasaray – Tuesday November 6th (3 pm)
Lokomotiv Moscow v FC Porto
1-3
Lokomotiv finished the game with 10 men after defender Saba Kvirkvelia‘s last-ditch foul on Hector Herrera in the 76th minute.
Porto recovered from a shaky start to beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-1, with Mexico internationals Herrera and Jesus Corona on the scoresheet.
A penalty save from Iker Casillas and a goal-line clearance kept Porto going behind early on, before Moussa Marega scored from the spot for the visitors in the 26th minute after a foul by Eder.
Porto’s Corona crossed for fellow Mexican Herrera to score a 35th minute header. Three minutes later Lokomotiv answered back when Alexei Miranchuk cut the ball back for his twin Anton Miranchuk who sent it into the top corner. It was the Russian side’s first Champions League goal since February 2004.
Shortly after the break Yacine Brahimi‘s pass lead to porto’s third goal, slicing through the Russian defense to Corona, who subsequently blasted the ball past goalie Guilherme.
The win saw the Portuguese club open up a two-point gap at the top of Group D.
Up Next:
Russian Premier League
Yenisey v Lokomotiv – Sunday October 28th (7am)
Primeira Liga
Porto v Feirense – Sunday October 28th (1:30pm)
Champions League
Porto v Lokomotiv – Tuesday November 6th (3 pm)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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