Champions League: Lamine Yamal scores in Barcelona loss, Arsenal steals some extent in Italy

Matchday 1 of the brand new, expanded and revamped UEFA Champions League first spherical concluded on Thursday with the ultimate dozen contributors making their debut within the 2024-25 model of soccer’s most prestigious membership competitors.

Listed below are the largest takeaways following Thursday’s six-game slate.

Raya’s saves salvage some extent for Arsenal: Atléti snares late win

After reaching the quarterfinals final season — its first again within the Champions League after a five-year hiatus — and ending as runner-up in England for 2 seasons working, Arsenal has designs on successful at the least one of many two trophies in 2025. They have been fortunate to get even a single level at Atalanta on Thursday evening.

Had goalkeeper David Raya not stopped Azzurri striker Mateo Retegui twice in fast succession within the second half, as soon as from the penalty spot and once more on the rebound, the Gunners would’ve left Italy empty-handed.

It appeared as if Atlético Madrid would additionally accept a tie — which would not have been the worst end result, even at dwelling, after RB Leipzig scored 4 minutes into the competition Antoine Griezmann canceled that tally out, however the rating was nonetheless even within the ninetieth minute. Thankfully for Atleti, Uruguayan heart again José María Giménez nodded dwelling the winner simply as second half stoppage time was about to start, sending the house crowd at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano into rapture:

It was most likely at all times going to be a protracted evening for Barcelona after defender Eric Garcia was proven a straight red card lower than 10 minutes into Tuesday’s journey to Monaco, and that was earlier than the hosts pulled out to a 1-0 first half lead.

However Barça was in fairly good condition after star 17-year-old Lamine Yamal pulled his facet degree within the principality with a stunning equalizer — his first within the Champions League. 

The strike made Yamal the second-youngest scorer in match historical past after teammate Ansu Fati (Fati would enter off the bench later within the match), and Hansi Flick’s crew made it get up late into the second half. All the things modified with simply over a quarter-hour remaining, although, when Monaco substitute George Ilenikhena caught the Spaniards’ again line sleeping and slotted what ended up being the game-winner previous longtime Barca keeper Marc-André ter Stegen. It was Barcelona’s first aggressive loss underneath new supervisor Flick.

Bayer Leverkusen picks up proper the place it let off   

The German champions went virtually right through the 2023-24 European season and not using a defeat, going unbeaten en path to the Bundesliga title and shedding simply the final match of their 51-game marketing campaign — to Italian facet Atalanta within the UEFA Europa League remaining.

Leverkusen has already dropped one Bundesliga contest this time period. However having graduated to the Champions League this season, Xabi Alonso’s facet acquired off to a fast begin in worldwide play as soon as once more by spanking Dutch energy Feyenoord 4-0 away from dwelling on Thursday.

German nationwide crew striker Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in Rotterdam after simply 4 minutes. Left again Alejandro Grimaldo doubled his crew’s benefit earlier than Wirtz added Leverkusen’s third nicely wanting halftime.

An personal aim earlier than the break made it 4-0, and the guests by no means appeared again.

With its first home crown in historical past secured, Alonso can focus all his gamers’ consideration on making a deep run in European play subsequent spring. With a visit to Bayern Munich looming at month’s finish and their subsequent Champions League take a look at towards seven-time champ AC Milan, we’ll quickly see in the event that they’re authentic contenders.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities. A former employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities, he has coated U.S. males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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