Football fans were rushing home from work on Tuesday to get in front of a screen ready for this season’s first Champions League games. And what a start it was!
Under the weeknight floodlights footballers seem to do their best work, especially in Europe’s biggest competition. Last year saw a cracking Ronaldo overhead kick sink Juventus, before Gareth Bale pulled off another in the final; Roma dumped Barcelona out of the competition with a late winner, and Liverpool went on an incredible run, their front three scoring 10 goals apiece, knocking out favourites Manchester City in the process.
From the opening games we already have plenty to talk about, so let’s get underway:
Inter Milan V Spurs
Inter Milan have fought their way back into the Champions League after a stint away, and were drawn up against Spurs, a team that managed to beat Real Madrid to top of Group H last season but have lost their last 2 league games on the bounce.
Spurs actually played the game very well, taking control of the game and taking the lead through a deflected Erikson shot. But then, up stepped the Inter Milan captain: in his previous season Mauro Icardi scored 29 goals across all competitions, all from inside the box. His goal against Spurs to make it 1-1 will be one that goes down in Champions League history. A perfectly crafted first time volley from a big out-swinging cross from the left was buried in the side netting and inspired Inter to make the comeback and win the game, taking all three points at home.
Liverpool V PSG
European football returning to Anfield is a special night for the Liverpool faithful. This was also the matchup that the neutrals were eager to watch: last years runners up against one of this year’s favourites. Both teams have a very exciting front three who love to score, so goals were expected tonight, and fans were not disappointed.
PSG have world class players, but once again are shown not to be a world class team as they had to show a lot of respect to The Reds in the way they lined up. Goals from Sturridge, filling in for Firmino who was on the bench as he recovers from his eye injury sustained in the Spurs game at the weekend, and James Milner’s penalty saw Liverpool take a deserved lead as they dominated proceedings and managed to stifle the lightning fast counter attacks from Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani.
A seemingly unambitious PSG managed to work their way back into the game to make it 2-2. And it seemed Mbappe had sealed a point for the travelling French fans who were in fine voice, before Firmino, on for Sturridge in the second half, managed to spot the bottom corner with his one good eye before rifling a shot in.
