I know, I know…we want to talk about football and not technology; but after yet another baffling VAR decision the Champions League news headlines have been skewed again.
I can’t ignore it but I’ll be as quick as I can.
Newcastle United were seconds away from bringing off a huge Champions League shock at the Parc de Princes where they met Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. A first half goal from Alexander Isak and a string of world class saves from Nick Pope looked to have given the Magpies a crucial three points to blow Group F wide open.
It was a classic away win in the making; a brave rearguard action against a superb attack with all guns blazing…football at it’s best.
Then, for reasons known only to himself, the VAR official decided to change the result. Tomasz Kwiatkowski asked referee Szymon Marciniak to go to the pitch side screen to review a potential penalty for handball against Tino Livramento. The ball had ricocheted off the defender’s chest and brushed his hand. It was not deliberate, there was no un-natural movement or time for the defender to adjust, and he did not gain advantage.
In short; it was never a penalty in a million years.
But was anybody really surprised when the ref pointed to the spot? Outraged, bewildered, disgusted…yes; but surprised? Not really.
Kylian Mbappe predictably converted with 98 minutes on the clock and victory was cruelly stolen from the Magpies. The ever diplomatic Eddie Howe said after the game that the referee was under extreme pressure from the PSG players and the decision was which cost his team two points was poor.
Kwiatkowski has been stood down from his game on Wednesday, the Real Sociedad versus Red Bull Salzburg clash.
The result means PSG stay second in Group F, behind qualifiers Borussia Dortmund and two points ahead of Newcastle and Milan. The Parisiens face Dortmund in the final game on 13th December while the Magpies host I Rossoneri and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be all over those tantalising ties.
Now back to the beautiful game. Borussia Dortmund took advantage of the chaos in Paris to qualify thanks to a resounding 3-1 win at the San Siro. The gamed was tied at half time after Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze had equalised an early penalty from Marco Reus, but Die Schwarzgelben roared home with goals from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi.
Sky Blues claim top spot
Manchester City’s clash with Red Bull Leipzig was a top two affair in Group G and the Sky Blues took all three points to make it five wins from five and confirm their position as Group winners. In the other game Young Boys beat Red Bull Belgrade to take third place and it looked like there was a shock on the cards at the Etihad Stadium when Los Openda gave Leipzig a two goal lead at the break. But man-of-the-match Phil Foden scored to level after Erling Haaland halved the deficit soon after half time with his 40th Champions League goal. The winning goal, finished by substitute Julian Alvarez, rounded off an 18 pass move as Foden pulled the strings.
The Champions League betting odds have pitched Pep Guardiola’s team as clear favourites to retain their European title and, on the evidence of the second half the Sky Blues will take some stopping.
Atleti and Lazio through to knockouts
Group E is done and dusted after Tuesday’s fixtures saw Atletico Madrid win away to Feyenoord and Lazio see off Celtic in Rome. Los Rojiblancos won their game 3-1 but the Dutch side had three scorers, sadly for them two were in the wrong end and so they will now have to settle for third place and a second chance in the Europa League. Lutsharel Geertruida was the unlucky defender to give the Spaniards an early goal and then Atleti centre back Mario Hermoso doubled the lead. Midfielder Mats Wieffer gave Feyenoord some hope but that was soon wiped away when Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez beat his own keeper.
Group E whipping boys Celtic looked like they had battled to a goalless draw in the Stadio Olimpico but then they met Lazio hot shot Ciro Immobile. The Azzurri striker broke the deadlock, on 82 minutes, with a fierce strike which took a deflection past Joe Hart in the Celtic goal. Then, three minutes later, he took advantage of hesitancy in the Scots’ defence to smash home the second and send Lazio to the knockouts. Immobile has scored eight goals in his last ten Champions League matches and these two gave Lazio their first back to back wins in the competition since 2001; but Celtic’s European adventure is well and truly over.
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