The two young stars Yamal and Wirtz are impressing in the Champions League.
Quite promptly after the patch that sparked at the European Championship, two young footballers of the highest order shined through for the world of club football.
The Millenial generation Yamal, who scored, wasn’t enough to save Barcelona from defeat against Monaco 2-1 on Thursday in the Champions League, as they had to do it with just 10 players, marking the end of a perfect season for the Spanish club.
As luck would have it, it was less than five minutes for Florian Wirtz to record the first clincher in his Champions League debut match.
Wirtz managed to score again in another decisive match. This time Bayer Leverkusen won by 4 goals to nil away to Feyenoord.
“I know it’s over now, but because I was so excited over the last few days for the game, that’s how I tried to handle the game. But I think, however, it was like that for everyone,” quoted Wirtz.
“I never really thought I would end up with 2 goals. However, the two opportunities came my way and I was able to take them both. And then those things you can only build on and I can only try and take my opportunities whenever they come in a game.”
Leverkusen was beaten in the Europa League with a defeat in the final March, its only loss of the season of glory which saw the team winning the league and cup double basically in the Bundesliga and German Cup.
Atalanta, who was victorious against Leverkusen four months prior, played a home game against Arsenal where there were no goals and a penalty awarded to Arsenal was saved.
Atlético Madrid overcame Leipzig 2-1 and Benfica came out 2-1 victors over Red Star Belgrade, while Brest’s debut in European competition was a 2-1 victory in Eupen against FC Sturm.
It was the third night of the new alterations of the Champions League Novelty which has completely done away with the common group stage.
Currently, each of the thirty six must face eight opponents through January and a league table ranking will determine which teams qualify for the knockout stage.
Teenage phenomenal
That part was weird because Lamal’s goal was what you would have expected of the usual 17 years old who is an athlete.
And Lamal holds the record and many score scoring records for both Barcelona and Spain and this summer participated in assisting Spain winning theted the youngest ever goalscorer in a European Championship in history.
But the Colonians’ Diogo Jota has become the second youngest distinctives of the Champions league to Nurat’sm youngest, he scored his first of 20 scaling Fatik for 28 days older teammate FIFA December on deadline scored when he played for London in 2019.
Maghnes Akliouche’s opener was cancelled by Yamal’s equalizer in the 28th minute. It was another goal of Yamal as he cut from the left flank into the box and expertly slid the ball past the two defenders into the lower right corner.
“He gave us a lot of breathing space, because it was another game if it were 1-1,” said Pedri, a midfielder from Barcelona. “A very nice goal and I’m glad we have him around.”
It was going to be hard for Barcelona after they were reduced to ten men a defender Eric Garcia was red-carded less than 11 minutes into the game and 18-year-old shaped forward George Ilenikhena scored a well worked goal for Monaco in the 71st minute.
Barcelona will host Young Boys on October 1.
Wonderful Wirtz
Wirtz in the season began netting three goals in as many Bundesliga games. Wirtz played well in the game.
And the 21-year-old continued that streak on Thursday in Rotterdam. Robert Andrich was able to steal the ball off him, and he made a bad pass to Feyenoord, who passed it again to Wirtz, this time attacking the right side, he shot to the bottom right corner.
A third came up within the half hour when Victor Boniface made a lovely intricate pass from near the ass box but cut right through to Jeremie Frimpong on the right cross, and at the back post Alejandro Grimaldo was on hand to score.
Timon Wellenreuther’s howler against Feyenoord Went down as an own goal after a header from Edmond Tapsoba prompted him to turn the ball over the line.
Golden oldie
As much as it’s all about youth, in this match, a seasoned player stepped up for Atlético.
Atlético Madrid’s 33-year-old Antoine Griezmann netted a goal for the 11th consecutive season in the Champions League and also assisted José María Giménez for the winning goal. A fourth-minute goal had been scored by Benjamin Šeško for Leipzig.
Stunning goal
There were two wins out of two for the new Benfica trainer Bruno Lage as his players were supported by Turk nationalists Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Orkun Kökçü.
With Kökçu it was a very different story as he smashed a free kick into the top right corner from 25 yards out.
The home side got a goal late in the match from Felicio Milson.
On 2nd October, Benfica will host Atlético in Lisbon.
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