Champions League drama on a Thursday, who would have thought?
The new era continued with six European games and plenty of mouth-watering results. Let us break down all the best moments for you.
The news of Martin Ødegaard’s ankle injury potentially keeping him sidelined for eight weeks will make Arsenal fans sick. And the feeling could be compounded after what was on display in their Champions League opener.
The Gunners managed to squeeze by rivals Tottenham 1-0 without their midfield maestro, but against a resolute Atalanta side, the captain’s absence was in full focus.
Mikel Arteta’s side failed to show any personality in the first half, with Kai Havertz and Declan Rice struggling to replicate the creativity that Ødegaard brings to the team. They finished the first half with only 184 passes and failed to register a shot between the 18th minute and the 74th.
Neither Jorginho’s introduction or Raheem Sterling’s was enough to bring a spark into the game, and with the season only just beginning, Arsenal could lose more early ground if they can’t find a way to plug the Ødegaard gap.
Arteta will be thanking the heavens David Raya pulled off an outrageous double penalty save to see things end 0-0.
Florian Wirtz finally made his Champions League debut. How has it honestly taken this long?
This European competition is a theatre for the best players to strut their stuff and the 21-year-old German international proved he holds such status after an incredible individual showing against Feyenoord.
It took Wirtz just four minutes and 36 seconds to find the back of the net in the competition with a low drive from range and he recorded a brace before the break for six goal contributions in six games this season.
His name is Florian Wirtz, he is 21 years old and he is going to be a world football star
At the time, he is the ONLY German player in the history of Champions League #UCL to score 2 goals in his debut in the competition. pic.twitter.com/JOf5UsMfnM
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) September 19, 2024
Other notable statistics include 100% ground duels won, 87% pass accuracy, three chances created, three ball recoveries and the first German to net twice on their competition debut.
If it had not been for that ACL tear, we would have seen his skills grace the UCL stage much earlier. Regardless of how long it took, it’s great to have him here finally.
Barcelona used to constantly rely on Lionel Messi’s talents to pull them out of a pickle, but with Argentina star now in the United States, that responsibility falls to an unlikely name.
Lamine Yamal again showed why he’s arguably the best footballer in the world right now—and he’s only 17. The Euro 2024 winner lit up the Champions League, netting his first goal in the competition.
His long-range curler (almost trademarked by now) helped Barcelona pull level after seeing Eric Garcia sent off after 10 minutes. Unfortunately for Hansi Flick and company, Yamal’s individual efforts weren’t enough to save them this time.
Barcelona conceded the eventual winner when substitute George Ilenikhena shot the ball right at Marc Andre ter Stegen and it slipped through. The goalkeeper was also the creator of the red card incident after opting for a rushed pass.
Barcelona know, Flick knows, the world knows that Yamal’s talent can lift the club to new levels. But his wonders will be for nothing if some of their veteran players can’t do their job when it’s required.
The 2024/25 season saw Brest and Girona enter Europe’s biggest stage as the two competition debutants. And it’s the French club who made the most of their moment.
Girona were denied a statement draw against Paris Saint-Germain yesterday losing 1-0 at the death while Brest went one step further, winning their opener 2-1 over SK Sturm Graz.
Of course, the quality in opposition is clear here. Still, after finally walking onto Europe’s biggest stage, the French club marked the celebratory moment with their first goal as Hugo Magnetti volleyed the ball off the ground from range.
Brest technically went on to score the other two goals, too, via Abdallah Sima and Edimilson Fernandes’ own goal.
In a new competition format where every goal and every point counts, it’s the club’s best start to Champions League life. They sit 13th in the table, above the likes of PSG, Arsenal, Inter, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Milan.
Oh, the Wanda Metropolitano. A chamber that suffocates opposition teams thanks to a roaring red and white crowd inside. It is a true theatre for drama, which was again the case on Thursday.
RB Leipzig thought they might conquer the grounds after Benjamin Sesko scored after 3:55 for the third earliest goal conceded by Atleti in the competition. The ever-reliable Antoine Griezmann, however, didn’t want to take such a chance.
Atleti’s legendary Frenchman turned back the clock and volleyed home an equaliser from over the penalty spot before delivering the goods in the 90th minute. Fans, and Diego Simeone, leapt to their feet when Griezmann recovered the ball in the box and sent in a no-look cross toward José María Giménez, who headed home the winner.
Antoine Griezmann has set up both goals for Atlético Madrid tonight – that takes him to six goal involvements already this season (six games), making it his best start to a campaign since 2016-17 (also six in his first six games). pic.twitter.com/y69BFXQJuT
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 19, 2024
It’s fitting that one of Atleti’s best players, who also leads their scoring charts in Europe and carried them to two previous Champions League finals, was the man to whip up such scenes inside a stadium.
The Wanda continues to be an environment that swallows up teams.
