The Manchester City-Inter Milan rematch of the 2023 Champions League ultimate resulted in a stalemate Wednesday, whereas French giants Paris Saint-Germain beat match newcomers Girona with a last-gasp aim.
Pep Guardiola’s facet have received all 4 of their Premier League video games this season however failed to interrupt down Italian champions Inter in a repeat of the 2023 ultimate received by City.
City misplaced Kevin De Bruyne to harm at halftime and Phil Foden fired straight at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with their greatest probability as Erling Haaland was saved quiet on an evening he was chasing his a centesimal aim for the English membership.
“It was a very intense game against a strong opponent. We knew what was coming, they are a top team as well and they are used to winning, so we were not going to have an easy job,” City defender Ruben Dias advised TNT Sports.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan may have received it for Inter when he blazed over quarter-hour from time, permitting City to increase their unbeaten run within the competitors to 24 matches – one off the report set by Manchester United between 2007 and 2009.
It is simply the second time in 42 dwelling Champions League video games beneath Guardiola that City have failed to attain.
“Our plan was to show that we’re not scared to play here,” stated Inter midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
PSG regarded as if they’d additionally need to accept a degree in opposition to European debutants Girona, who’re backed by the City Football Group and ran Real Madrid shut for a number of months in Spain final season earlier than coming third.
However, a goalkeeping blunder from Paulo Gazzaniga within the ninetieth minute resulted in Nuno Mendes’ cross squirming by his grasp and handing the French champions victory.
“It was a difficult game, they’re a team that plays well with the ball,” Mendes advised Canal Plus.
“I was surprised (by the goal). The goalkeeper was there and it got through.”
Gittens propels Dortmund
Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, crushed by Madrid within the ultimate, had English winger Jamie Gittens to thank because the 20-year-old got here off the bench and scored twice in a 3-0 win at Club Brugge.
Serhou Guirassy added a stoppage-time penalty for his first Dortmund aim since arriving in the summertime from Stuttgart.
Celtic started in fashion by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow, profitable their opening sport within the Champions League for the primary time in 13 makes an attempt.
Liam Scales’ highly effective header put Celtic forward and the hosts struck once more by Kyogo Furuhashi early within the second half earlier than Arne Engels transformed a penalty for 3-0.
Kevin Wimmer pulled one again with a high-quality strike for the Slovak champions, who got here by 4 rounds of qualifying, however Celtic pulled away with additional objectives from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.
“It’s a fantastic night,” Celtic captain Callum McGregor advised TNT Sports.
“I hope the supporters enjoyed it because the managers and players did. This is the next level for the group in terms of growth and development.”
Bologna drew 0-0 at dwelling to Shakhtar Donetsk within the Italian workforce’s first-ever Champions League match. Lukasz Skorupski saved an early penalty from Shakhtar’s Georgiy Sudakov.
Sparta Prague swept Red Bull Salzburg apart 3-0 with objectives from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci, because the Czech champions received for the primary time within the competitors correct since 2003.
Source: www.dailysabah.com