Champions League: Napoli stuns Liverpool as Lewandowski, Richarlison impress

Napoli shocked Liverpool while Ajax and Barcelona recorded emphatic wins on Wednesday as the first round of matches in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League season was concluded.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski netted a hattrick against Viktoria Plzen. Elsewhere, it was an enthralling finish to the Atletico-Porto encounter, where all three goals were scored in added time.

REVIEW

Napoli 4-1 Liverpool (Group A)

Just few days ago, NewsRoundTheClock touched on the huge impact certain Napoli players were having on the team. The likes of Victor Osimhen, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Piotr Zielinski, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae have been very solid.

Their fantastic performance dismantled Jurgen Klopp’s side on Wednesday night, making the Reds look like a feeders’ team. Talismanic striker Victor Osimhen hit the post in the opening minute before Napoli took the lead through Zielinski’s penalty.

Osimhen missed a penalty but I Partenopei’s second was not to be denied when Anguissa scored following good work from Zielinski. The Nigerian striker was replaced in the 41st minute by Giovanni Simeone, who scored within three minutes of coming on.

Two minutes after the restart, Zielinski netted his second before Luis Diaz grabbed the consolation for the Reds.

Ajax 4-0 Rangers (Group A)

The Dutch outfit were so brilliant that the contest ended in the first half. Ajax led through Edson Alvarez’s header before goals from Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus sent them 3-0 up at halftime.

Rangers had chances of their own but Steven Bergwijn’s late goal condemned the Scottish side to the heavy defeat. It has been a difficult few days for Rangers who lost 4-0 to Celtic in the league over the weekend.

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Atlético Madrid 2-1 FC Porto (Group B)

It was a dramatic finish to the contest at the Wanda Metropolitano as three goals were socred in injury time. Antoine Griezmann grabbed the victory after Mateus Uribe’s converted spot kick had cancelled out Mario Hermoso’s deflected shot.

Club Brugge 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Group B)

Things have not panned out well for the Germans and their forgettable start to life this season continued in Belgium.

Following a frustrating few weeks, Leverkusen lost to a spirited and determined Club Brugge side. 19-year-old Ivorian defender Abakar Sylla, making his UCL debut, headed home in the first half to secure all three points.

The away side pushed frantically for an equalizer but all efforts proved unsuccessful. Top striker Patrik Schick had two goals ruled out for offside with Brugge holding on to ensure the victory.

Inter Milan 0-2 Bayern Munich (Group C)

Nerazzurri suffered their home loss at the hands of a strong Bayern Munich side. It will be a tough time for the Italians in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League season.

Only Viktoria Plzen look like a soft opponent with a Barcelona side – filled with amazing players – still to be encountered.

On Wednesday night, Leroy Sane gave the Germans the lead with what was a ‘goal of the week’ contender. Danilo D’Ambrosio scored an own goal to extend Bayern’s lead and also confirm the eventual result.

Barcelona 5-1 Viktoria Plzen (Group D)

Lewandowski scored thrice to become the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League campaign’s outright top scorer. The Czech side, expected to be the “whipping boys” in the group, did not surprise anyone following the mauling.

Former AC Milan man Franck Kessie had put the Catalan giants ahead via a Jules Kounde assist. Lewandowski then scored the second before Jan Sykora pulled one back.

Barcelona then marched on without looking back – the Polish striker added two further goals before Ferran Torres completed the rout.

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Frankfurt 0-3 Sporting CP

It was a maiden win for Sporting in Germany, having previously never won in the country before Wednesday.

Amazing English winger Marcus Edwards scored the opening goal and assisted Francisco Trincao for the second. The impressive away victory was completed when Nuno Santos buried Pedro Porro’s cross.

Tottenham 2-0 Marseille (Group D)

Two headers from Richarlison on his Champions League debut was all Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side needed to beat Olympique Marseille.

The French outfit looked promising until Chancel Mbemba was shown a red card. Richarlison’s first was from a cross delivered by another summer signing Ivan Perisic.

He added the second nine minutes to the end of normal time after being set up by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The goals were Richarlison’s first for Spurs and the importance of the feat was evident when the 25-year-old was captured crying alongside friends and family. He claimed the man of the match award as well.

STATS

• Napoli are the first team to score four goals against Liverpool in a group stage fixture
• Abakar Sylla scored on his UCL debut to secure victory for coach Carl Hoefkens, also making his Champions League debut
• Three of the last five hat-tricks in the Champions League (group stage to final) have been scored by Lewandowski
• Alvarez’s goal was the 50th by a Mexican player in the Champions League, and first since Hirving Lozano for Napoli in November 2019
• The Atletico-Porto match is only the second time in Champions League history where there have been three goals in the 90th minute or later, excluding extra time. The first time it happened was also a game between both teams in December.