City outgun Barca- Champions League Roundup

Matchday four of the UEFA Champions League was packed with drama and plenty of goals as the teams in Groups A,B,C and D all faced off. Tonight’s results saw Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG secure their places in the last 16.

Here’s a full roundup of all the action

Group A

Basel 1-2 PSG

PSG celebrate their late winner.
PSG celebrate their late winner.

PSG left it late to take all three points from their trip to Switzerland. The Ligue 1 side took the lead two minutes from halftime through midfielder Blaise Matituidi. The home side rallied after the restart and the sides were level by the 76th minute thanks to Luca Zuffi. However six minutes from time Basel were dealt a blow when midfielder Sierey Die picked up his second yellow card. PSG made the most of their numerical advantage and Thomas Meuiner’s 90th minute volley saw the Parsiains earn a hard fought victory.

Ludogrets Razgrad 2-3 Arsenal 

Mesut Ozil secures Aresnal's spot in the last 16.
Mesut Ozil secures Aresnal’s spot in the last 16.

Arsenal were forced to come from two goals behind in Bulgaria tonight to overcome their hosts. Ludogrets took the lead in the 12th minute thanks to Jonathan Cafu. Just three minutes later they were two up through Claudiu Keseru. The Gunners comeback started when Granit Xhaka found the net with 20 minutes played. Three minutes from the interval Olivier Giroud had the sides level. Arsenal had to wait for their winner but it came in sublime fashion two minutes from time through Mesut Ozil.

Group B

Besiktas 1-1 Napoli

Ricardo Quaresma celebrates with his teammates.
Ricardo Quaresma celebrates with his teammates.

Besiktas were held at home by Napoli in this evening’s early kickoff. The sides were inseparable up to the break and the excitement didn’t being untill 11 minutes from time. The Turkish side took the lead thanks to a Ricardo Quaresma penalty however Napoli replied three minutes later with Marek Hamsik scoring the equaliser. The Italian side will be happy to take a point from a notoriously tricky away trip.

Benfica 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv

Salvio converts from the spot.
Salvio converts from the spot.

Dynamo Kyiv made the long journey from Ukraine to Portugal for tonight’s clash and leave empty handed. The hots took the lead on the stoke of half time through an Eduardo Salvio penalty. Kyiv could have taken at least a point from the game but they failed to convert a 68th minute penalty. Junior Moraes will be having nightmares about that miss.

Group C

Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-1 Celtic

Lars Stindl celebrates his goal for Moenchengladbach.
Lars Stindl celebrates his goal for Moenchengladbach.

Celtic came from behind to earn a draw away to Borussia Moenchengladbach. The home side were in control for the first half and took the lead through a well worked move finished off beautifully by Lars Stindl. The Bundesliga outfit suffered a serious blow 15 minutes from time when Julian Korb received a straight red card conceding a penalty in the process. Moussa Dembele stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. A tough game for both sides who will feel they could have won it.

Manchester City 3-1 FC Barcelona

Gundogan was on hand to down Barca tonight.
Gundogan was on hand to down Barca tonight.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City punished his former club Barcelona tonight at the Ethihad despite falling behind. City began the game on the front foot placing their visitors under serious pressure. The Barca defence withstood these early attacks and in fact took the lead through a rapid counter attack. Lionel Messi began the move firing the ball up the left wing to Neymar. The Brazilian made his way forward before laying the ball off to Messi who took two touches before curling the ball under the outstretched Willy Caballero. Barcelona took control of the game but one momentary lapse in concentration saw Sergi Roberto gift City with the ball. A quick exchange of passes decimated the Barca defence allowing Ilkay Gundogan to level the sides 6 minutes from the break. The second half saw City control the game. Barcelona once again faced intense pressure from the restart but cracks were beginning to show. Sergi Busquets brought conceded a freekick on the edge of the box which allowed Kevin de Bruyne to curl the ball into the top right corner of the net. Barcelona failed to make any chances and City completed their second half masterclass 16 minutes from time when Gundogan was on hand to tap home their third goal. Barcelona weren’t at their best tonight and certainly felt the absences of Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta.

Group D

Atletico Madrid 2-1 FC Rostov

Antoine Griezmann celebrates his late winner.
Antoine Griezmann celebrates his late winner.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid were pushed all the way by their Russian visitors tonight. Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 29th minute but just one minute later Serdar Azmoun had the sides level.  Atletico showed their determination and never say die attitude tonight and were rewarded when Greizmann scored the winner in the 94th minute. A dramatic night in the Spanish capital.

PSV 1-2 Bayern Munich

Lewandowski was the hero for Bayern tonight.
Lewandowski was the hero for Bayern tonight.

Robert Lewandowski scored a brace tonight as Bayern Munich came from behind to defeat the Dutch hosts. PSV had taken the lead through Santiago Arias in the 14th minute but twenty minutes later Lewandowski scored his first from the penalty spot. The sides remained level for much of the game but in the 74th minute Lewandowski found the net securing all three points for the Bundesliga giants.

 

Tonight certainly wasn’t disappointing. Tomorrow brings more Champions League action with Real Madrid, Leicester, Tottenham and Juventus all in action. Be sure to check back for another comprehensive roundup tomorrow.

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