Liverpool beat Rangersin a Champions League Group A clash on Tuesday night to go second in their group and destined for the knockout phase.
It was billed as the Battle of Britain as Rangers travelled south in the hope of proving that Scotland’s best could live with the English elite. But the Gers will have to try again next week because at Anfield they were second best from start to finish.
Trent Alexander Arnold gave the Reds an early lead with a beautifully executed free-kick curled into the top corner, giving Rangers keeper Allan McGregor no chance. But the Rangers keeper performed heroics to keep the score down saving from Darwin Nunez in a one-on-one. With 13 shots to two and seven to none on target Liverpool had been totally dominant in the opening 45 minutes.
Mo Salah made it two from the penalty spot after Luis Diaz as upended early in the second half as Liverpool continued to boss the game.
The Reds move up to six points, but three behind leaders Napoli who thrashed Ajax 6-1 as Giacomo Raspadori scored twice and Ajax striker Dusan Tadic was sent off. Luciano Spalletti’s side has made the perfect start to their Champions League campaign, with three wins from three and they lead Serie A on 20 points from eight games.
Bayern mean Business
FC Bayern took a stranglehold on Group C, making it three wins from three thanks to a 5-0 destruction of Viktoria Plzen. 75,000 fans packed into the Allianz Arena and they only had to wait seven minutes before Leroy Sane opened the scoring, taking a pass from Jamal Musiala and smashing the ball high into the net. Serge Gnabry and Sadio Mane made it 3-0 by the break. Sane scored his second, five minutes into the second half, sliding his shot home from a through ball from Mane. Eric Choupong-Moting fired one into the top corner to make it five with less than an hour gone and Die Bayern called it a night.
Bayern are currently third in the Bundesliga. They had an unbeaten record after six games but a shock defeat to Augsburg ended that. Normal service was resumed last weekend as the Bavarians hammered Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 and they are hot favourites to win their domestic title. And the latest Champions League 2022 betting odds rate Bayern as third favourites to lift the 2022/23 competition, with Manchester City the clear favourites.
Advantage Inter
Inter Milan’s home tie against Barcelona was one of the most eagerly awaited and one we previewed here at SBOTOP. And with FC Bayern smashing Plzen out of sight it looks like this will be the battle for second place in Group C.
Andreas Christensen and Robert Lewandowski both had efforts brilliantly saved by Andre Anona as Barca dominated possession but it was the Italians who struck on the stroke of half time. Hakan Calhanoglu took a pass from Federico Dimarco, just outside the penalty area, and he fired a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Barca’s perseverance seemed to have paid off when 19 year old midfield star Pedri kept his cool to slot home the leveller midway through the second half, but VAR intervened and the goal was chalked off.
Sporting’s Adan has a shocker
With six points already in the bag in a wide open Group D, Sporting Lisbon went to Marseilles just needing a point to stay in charge of the group. So it was not the night for Sporting keeper Antonio Adan to have a nightmare. The 35 year old Spaniard has had a fine career as a former Real Madrid academy player but this is a night he will be trying to forget.
Trincao, on loan from Barcelona, gave Lisbon the perfect start with a clinical finish in the opening minute but then it all went horribly wrong. With just 13 minutes on the clock Adan raced off his line to clear a weak back pass but he kicked the ball straight at the advancing Alexis Sanchez and it bounced into the net. Moments later Adan was beaten by a header from Amine Harit, but his night was complete, and prematurely ended, with just 23 minutes played. When OM pumped a long ball forward Adan raced out again and this time floored Nuno Tavares while handling outside the penalty area.
He was lucky to only get one red card!
Marseille had the three points in the bag when Leonardo Balerdi scored before the break and Chancel Mbemba made it 4-1 with a late strike.
In Tuesday’s other Champions League 2022 results Club Brugges beat Atletico Madrid 2-0, FC Porto beat Leverkusen by the same score and Eintracht Frankfurt played put a goalless draw with Spurs.
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