While the week of play, one gave us a taster, two-six really pointed out the start of the drama in the Champions League. We saw the Var controversy, upset players and a right recall on the reasons why Paris Saint-Germain is European champion, even with weakened programming.
The French giants gradually chose Barcelona and finally found their reward to make two two on the European scene. The same goes for Liverpool and Manchester City, however, who failed to resume where they had stopped. That said, from Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot, it is the latter who will be the most frustrated after having suffered consecutive defeats in all competitions.
So, in a week full of twists and turns, which stands out like our greatest winners and losers in the Champions League?
Winner: Dier Rattles Man City and Hojlund Sparks Man Utd Regrets
Winner: Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli)
It’s a familiar story for Manchester United, right? While the Red Devils look from outside the European qualification and far from even considering football in the Champions League, their former players continue to prosper elsewhere. Last season was Scott MCTOMINAY. Now it’s Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.
The Napoli striker has already scored three goals in five games for the Italian giants – seven less than the final total of last season – and ended a beautiful evening in the Champions League with a splint against the former team of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Club.
What really rubs the salt in Man United’s injuries is the fact that Hojlund, Anthony Elaga and Marcel Sabitzer – all former players – won the match of the match man for their current clubs in the Champions League this week while the Red Devils continue to fight.
Winner: Goncalo Ramos (PSG)
Trying to enter this PSG front line may well be the most difficult task of European football. He now even understands a Golden Ball winner in Ousmane Dembele. But that does not prevent Goncalo Ramos from knocking on the door of the front line of Luis Enrique, fighting desperately for his place.
The international of Portugal was again in the Champions League. After Senny Mayulu, 19, obtained a starting point on him before scoring the equalizer of PSG against Barcelona, he belonged to Ramos to get out of the bench to find the winning goal and make a complaint for his place.
By scoring his third goal of the season and his second in as many games in the Champions League, Ramos continues to be one of the most underestimated attackers in European football.
Winner: Eric Dier (like Monaco)
Winner of Bundesliga, versatile defender and now among the football enemies of Bernardo Silva, Eric Dier set up the CV these days. The former Tottenham Hotspur star was accused of diving by Man City midfielder to win Monaco’s late penalty, which he converted to draw his side, but insisted that there was a contact in his post-match reaction.
After having stolen a point of what seemed a certain defeat, Monaco and Dier should be delighted with their last outing in the Champions League. As for Man City, this is another shift in what has become an increasingly vulnerable side in the last 12 months.
Losing: Flick’s High-Line Exposed and Var intervenes again the titles
Ferm: Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
A highline is a risk and reward game. Ask Jurgen Klopp and he will say that it played a crucial role in the best side of the Premier League of Liverpool. Guardiola will also provide a similar answer from the human point of view. But Barcelona does not appreciate the same domination.
Again, the Hansi Flick background line was left on the Champions League. He undoubtedly gave Inter Milan a route to the final last season in the fascinating semi-finals and he has just provided PSG an early scalp during his first defense. It is unlikely that the Spanish giants will change and the former star Thierry Henry did not retain his verdict.
The former Barcelona star said: “You cannot play in the Champions League with this high line, I’m sorry. When you play against the right teams, you are going to be exhibited and that’s exactly what happened. Any well -timed race, you go through the goal.”
Loser: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
An exasperating and dramatic start for the Liverpool season quickly turned concerning. Suddenly, the deceased winners stopped coming and their defensive vulnerability remained, the performances of Ibrahima Konate playing a big role. The Frenchman was suspect in a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend and fought once again while Galatasaray shocked the Reds.
With the French contract which ends in less than 12 months and that Real Madrid sniffs, to say that its decrease in form is poorly invented would be an understatement.
Add to the fact that Arne Slot has only three central defenders at her disposal and it is clear that Konate must rediscover her best as soon as possible.
Lose: was
At the risk of looking like a broken record, it was another bad week for Var in the Champions League. The sanction of Galatasaray, which was granted after Baris Alper Yilmaz struck the bridge after the controversial contact of Dominik Szoboszlai, stood out Tuesday evening before the late penalty of Monaco against Man City caused more controversy.
Reports also circulate that the Var team has chosen the wrong executive to examine Ramos’ winning goal against Barcelona. New images show how tight the call in a moment that could have ended very differently.
Many thought that the introduction of Var would eradicate arbitration errors or at least guide the big titles of the referees. Years later, however, that does something else.
