ReutersArne Slot
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 23:16
Liverpool keeps winning under coach Arne Slot. The score was 0-1 when they visited RB Leipzig, the third win in a row in the Champions League. In all competitions, Slot’s team won eleven of the first twelve matches this season, making him the first manager ever to achieve that feat on behalf of an English club at the highest level.
FC Barcelona, with Frenkie de Jong recovering from an injury as a substitute, won 4-1 against Bayern Munich and with the return of Nathan Aké, Manchester City defeated Sparta Prague: 5-0.
Aston Villa and Liverpool are the only teams in the Champions League that have won everything.
In Leipzig, Liverpool was under pressure in the opening phase, but the Germans – with Dutch internationals Xavi Simons and Lutsharel Geertruida in the starting line-up – did not keep it up for long. Liverpool took over and had great chances through a very active Cody Gakpo and the Uruguayan Darwin Núñez.
In addition to Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch were also in the starting line-up. They joined in the celebration when the eager Núñez stole a goal from Mohamed Salah by giving the ball one last push.
AFPDarwin Núñez just managed to score 0-1
Gakpo, Núñez and Van Dijk had chances to make it 0-2, but had no luck in finishing. At Leipzig, Simons and Loïs Openda were the unlucky ones. Simons left the field injured fifteen minutes before the end, Openda saw two goals disallowed for offside.
Liverpool visits Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. The leader has a lead of 4 points over the Londoners.
Raphinha ends Barça’s bad run
With three goals, Raphinha gave his Barcelona the victory (4-1) against Bayern Munich. The Germans looked a lot better, especially in the first half, but had no answer to the speedy Brazilian’s urge to score.
Bayern traveled to Barcelona in good spirits, the Germans won the last six mutual matches and did not even concede a goal in the four most recent meetings. Raphinha made short work of that series. Already in the first minute he escaped the Bavarian defense and scored: 1-0.
ReutersRaphinha celebrates his third goal
Harry Kane thought he had leveled the score just under ten minutes later, but his striking header was disallowed for offside. Not much later, Kane scored the deserved 1-1. This time he did a good job with his right foot from a half-high cross.
Bayern was better, but did not press, allowing Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski to make it 2-1 against his old club. And then there was Raphinha again. Just before half time he reappeared (3-1) and in the second half he also scored his third goal of the evening.
De Jong and Aké return
Shortly after that 4-1, the Brazilian had to hand in the captain’s armband, because De Jong, who was fit again, reported within the lines.
Nathan Aké was in the starting line-up in Manchester City’s big win (5-0) over Sparta Prague. The Dutch defender made his first minutes since he was injured with the Dutch national team in the Nations League six weeks ago.
For a moment he even thought he was contributing to City’s production, but a strike from Aké was disallowed.
