Champions League hits and misses: Lionel Messi’s brilliance downs Man Metropolis and Curtis Jones shines for Liverpool

Messi’s magic lights up Paris

Lionel Messi had been a peripheral determine within the second half on the Parc des Princes. However, as Manchester Metropolis pushed for an equaliser, he was watching and ready for his second.

It got here within the 74th minute, when, nonetheless positioned inside his personal half on the right-hand facet of the pitch, Messi collected Marco Verratti’s go and surged into the area in entrance of him.

By then, it already felt like one thing particular was about to occur.

Achraf Hakimi’s overlapping run distracted Joao Cancelo and Messi charged inside, ghosting previous Aymeric Laporte as if he was not there, bouncing a one-two off the heel of Kylian Mbappe’s proper boot, then firing an excellent first-time shot into the highest nook.

The stadium erupted and the depth of Messi’s celebration betrayed his reduction. He had began slowly in his new environment, failing to attain in his first three PSG appearances then struggling an damage, however now he has actually arrived.

Moments like this are exactly what he was delivered to PSG for, however this was not a classic Messi efficiency.

There have been some eye-catching passes, most notably the one to launch Nuno Mendes on the break whereas underneath stress in his personal half within the opening interval, however he didn’t create a single likelihood over the course of the sport. He solely managed one profitable dribble and didn’t have a single contact in Metropolis’s field.

Even in these circumstances, although, stationed out on the precise and intently marshalled by one among Europe’s finest defences, Messi discovered a means. His purpose, superbly taken from 20 yards out, got here from his solely shot of the night.

It was a reminder, if it was actually wanted, of the genius that also permits him to settle the largest video games. It was a reminder, too, of how his signing elevates a facet searching for their first Champions League crown. On this proof they’ll take some beating.
Nick Wright

City lack cutting edge

There isn’t any want for Manchester Metropolis to panic after this defeat. There are 4 video games to go within the group stage and, having overwhelmed RB Leipzig of their opener, they’re just one level behind PSG.

Pep Guardiola was eager to convey a way of clam in his post-match interview. “Now we’re going to eat nicely tonight, we’re going to drink a glass of wine, we’re going to get well and we’re going to put together for the sport on Saturday,” he mentioned.

However on the similar time he’ll concentrate on the necessity for his facet to exhibit extra leading edge if they’re to beat Liverpool in Sunday’s Premier League assembly at Anfield.

On the Parc des Princes, that they had 18 photographs with out discovering the online. Bernardo Silva was most culpable, putting the crossbar from just a few yards out when it regarded simpler to attain within the first half, however he was not the one one who lacked composure when it mattered.

The identical was true of Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias, all of whom spurned good alternatives to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

There have been different events this season, in fact, after they have had no hassle ending off their possibilities. However this was a type of performances which exhibits why Guardiola was so eager to signal Harry Kane from Tottenham throughout the summer time.

Final season, Metropolis didn’t fail to attain in any of their first 15 video games of the marketing campaign. This time, it has already occurred 3 times in 9. At Anfield they’ll should be sharper.
Nick Wright

Jones shines as Liverpool thrash Porto

There was no shock that Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been the scorers in Liverpool’s 5-1 win away over Porto within the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday. However the id of the gamers who set these targets up may have glad Jurgen Klopp.

James Milner, Liverpool’s oldest participant, deputising for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, delivered the measured cross that discovered its strategy to Mane on the far submit for the second. That apart, it was Curtis Jones, their youngest starter, who was the star of the present.

Jones arrange three of the 5 targets and did a lot extra, with and with out the ball, to underline his rising significance to this Liverpool group. He was the catalyst.

Klopp had been gesturing for his gamers to hurry up the play as they stroked it across the again with the rating goalless halfway by means of the primary half. Jones did quite higher than that. Recognising the area was out large, he drifted looking for it and drove on the defence.

It was a second of high quality and confirmed that the 20-year-old midfielder is ready to do extra than simply play it secure, tick the ball over and await the large names to ship. He has that swagger, that urge for food and skill to make issues occur himself.

Jones can nonetheless do the straightforward stuff too. Sure, there was one languid ball ahead and a failed try and angle a go in behind when he noticed Salah in area, however these moments stood out for a cause. They have been the one two occasions within the first half that he misplaced a go.

Forty others discovered a team-mate in that 45 minutes, his passing accuracy the most effective of anybody on the pitch. His complete of 28 accomplished passes within the opposition half earlier than the interval was additionally greater than anybody else. It was a efficiency that demanded consideration.

Harvey Elliott had a lot of that in the beginning of the season, getting into that place left vacant by Gini Wijnaldum’s exit. Jones is extra acquainted, having already registered over 50 appearances for Liverpool. However on this proof he seems to be prepared for an even bigger function.

His work for the third purpose illustrated that finest. Successful the ball was nice, operating with it was good too, however the presence of thoughts to select the precise go was even higher.

The fourth owed one thing to some depressing goalkeeping after Jones despatched the ball down the left channel extra in hope than expectation however he had carried out nicely to retain possession in a decent spot earlier than that. He was even concerned within the fifth.

It capped what was an exquisite night time for him. Whereas Milner impresses by sustaining his degree, Jones may simply be discovering a brand new one.
Adam Bate

Sheriff pull off historic shock

On an evening of excessive drama within the Champions League, Moldovan facet Sheriff Tiraspol pulled off one of many greatest shocks within the competitors’s historical past as they beat Actual Madrid 2-1 on the Bernabeu.

Sheriff, who come from the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria and upset the chances to even attain the group stage for the primary time of their historical past, emerged victorious within the Spanish capital due to very good 89th-minute strike from Sebastien Thill.

Earlier, that they had taken the lead due to a header from Uzbek midfielder Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, with Actual Madrid requiring a Karim Benzema penalty to be able to pull degree.

The Spanish giants peppered the Sheriff purpose, making an attempt 31 photographs to the guests’ 4 and having 76 per cent of the possession, however they did not take their possibilities and have been punished in sensational type.

Sheriff, who had already shocked Shakhtar Donetsk with a 2-0 win of their opening Champions League sport, now sit prime of Group D with six factors – and a real likelihood of reaching the final 16.

“It is exhausting to clarify the sport,” mentioned a shocked Carlo Ancelotti afterwards.
Nick Wright