The UEFA Champions League continued with another round of matches in its new format on Wednesday and unlike the opening day, where there were goals scored in all the matches, two games ended goalless this time around.
In a battle between two domestic champions, Manchester City and Inter Milan, at the Etihad Stadium, neither team found the back of the net in a rematch of the 2023 final which Pep Guardiola’s side won.
The two sides created numerous chances, but they lack the final touch on the night with Josko Gvardiol’s goal line clearance denying Inter of a goal scoring opportunity, while several Yann Sommer saves kept City at bay.
Points are shared in Manchester.#UCL pic.twitter.com/ZPJVadlahh
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2024
Another Italian team played out a goalless draw as Bologna’s return to Europe in just under 60 years failed to provide any spark at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium against Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Ukrainians failing to score in a Champions League match for the second time in their last 14 matches in the competition.
Best performance?! 🌟#UCL pic.twitter.com/QQ0tzNs1Tx
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2024
Meanwhile, Sparta Prague’s return to Europe’s top-tier was a memorable one as the Czech club eased past RB Salzburg 3-0 at home in their first Champions League match in 19 years.
Goals from Kaan Kairinen, Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji and Albanian midfielder Qazim Laci was more than enough to help Sparta overcome their Austrian counterpart for their first win in the competition since 2003.
Elsewhere, it rained goals in Scotland as Celtic completed a 5-1 rout of Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park to win their opening match in a Champions League campaign for the first-time ever.
A well-rounded performance from Brendan Rogers’ side was capped off by goals from Liam Scales, Kyogo Furuhashi, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah, with former Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer scoring the visitor’s only goal.
Five for the Bhoys 🍀#UCL pic.twitter.com/3DLVZx0q4G
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2024
It didn’t go as planned for Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium as they hosts were thumped 3-0 by last season’s finalist Borussia Dortmund thanks to a brace from English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and a penalty from Guinea international Serhou Guirassy.
Bynoe-Gittens, who came on to replace Marcel Sabitzer, put his name in the record books by becoming the second youngest substitute to score a brace in the Champions League.
Jamie Gittens on the ultimate stage ⚫️🟡#UCL pic.twitter.com/RRo2EKBqW9
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2024
The last match of the day went down at the Parc des Princes where Paris Saint-Germain were aided by the gods of football as they fought-hard to record a 1-0 win over debutants Girona.
The Parisiens had an own goal from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga in the 90th minute to thank for their victory as the Argentine’s late error cost the Spanish team a deserved point.
The impact of Wednesday’s results was felt on the league standings, as Celtic leapfrogged Aston Villa into second place, while Dortmund and Sparta Prague are now fourth and fifth, respectively. PSG are tenth as Inter and City share positions 11 and 12.
