New Delhi: If the first day of the 2024/25 Champions League season revolved around the themes of redemption and revival (see Juventus’, Aston Villa’s and Liverpool’s performances), tonight could’ve been framed as an introduction of new faces, new blood taking that great leap of faith and aiming to translate a fast domestic rise on the grand old European stage.
Romaticism, however, was found to be amiss. Surprise entrees Slovan Bratislava were hammered 5-1 at Celtic, with Borussia Dortmund winning 0-3 away at Club Brugge in subpar fashion. Paris Saint-Germain should’ve scored more, but settled for a 1-0 victory over tournament debutants Girona. Lastly, the 2023 finalists in Manchester City and Inter Milan clashed at the Etihad for a well-deserved draw for both sides.
Manchester City 0 – 0 Inter Milan
Only Inter Milan and Arsenal have kept a clean sheet at the Etihad in 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
This was one of the many fixtures that raised eyebrows during the Champions League draw in August. A repeat of the 2023 final of the Champions League, English league champions welcoming the Italian league champions—it had the hallmarks for an instant classic. The end result was much more of an acquired taste, with the two sides making it to fulltime goalless. City ended with a possession percentage of 60%, but were far from their fluent, well-oiled self. Inter were forced to defend with resolve in the opening spells, before firing warning shots through counters, especially Marcus Thuram scuffing his shot wide in the 16th minute.
Despite the hosts’ great intent in their settled play around Inter’s box, openings were few and far between the Nerazzuri’s back-five. Inter were keen on the counter with midfielder Nicolo Barella shining, but like a repeat of that 2023 final, Inter fluffed their lines in the final third. Defender Matteo Darmian was one-on-one with City keeper Ederson in the 56th minute, but overcomplicated a pass and gave the ball away. City would almost dominate the tie from that point, save for another frustrating miss from Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 76th minute. Inter keeper Yann Sommer was pushed to his limits in the dying minutes by the likes of Jack Grealish, Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden, but the best chances were reserved for the returning Ilkay Gundogan, who missed two close-range headers before the fulltime whistle went.
PSG 1 – 0 Girona
PSG shook off the ghosts of their Champions League exit last season and were handed a lifeline by Girona keeper Gazzaniga. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
PSG continued their long, winding road through the trials and tribulations of European football, but valiantly rescued three points at home with a late own goal against Girona. The goal came in stoppage time, when leftback Nuno Mendes drove inside the penalty box, before his searing low cross was clumsily bundled into the net by Paulo Gazzaniga, breaking several Catalonian hearts. The loss was infinitely more stinging considering what came before it. Far from the lofty heights of their previous La Liga season, Girona were largely deprived of the ball, focusing more on resisting the hosts, who only managed one clear opportunity in the first half through a low shot from Marco Asensio grazing the post.
After the half-time team talk, PSG were certainly the team baring their fangs, with big scoring opportunities flowing in abundance. Ousmane Dembele first sent shockwaves of terrors with his piledriver of a shot smacking off the crossbar. Then it was the speed and trickery of dynamic fullback Achraf Hakimi, who created a wonderful opportunity for Randal Kolo Muani, only for the forward to unbelievably miss the target with only the keeper to beat. When Hakimi’s close-range effort was saved by Gazzaniga, ghosts of PSG’s semi-final clash with Dortmund in early 2024 must’ve paid a visit. However, it was Gazzaniga who was at the end of a cruel trick when Nuno Mendes decided to dart inside the box in injury time.
Club Brugge 0 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
English winger Jamie Gittens can follow in Jude Bellingham’s footsteps and become Dortmund’s hero. (Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images)
This year’s scriptwriters certainly hold an affinity to subtle changes. Last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund were far from convincing against hosts Club Brugge in their opener, with only the late introduction of young English winger Jamie Gittens turning the tie on its head. The tone of the previous sentence should betray the jeopardy Dortmund must’ve felt for nearly 70 minutes. It could’ve been much worse in the 12th minute, when a short corner routine from the hosts had Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel tip Hans Vanaken’s volley just enough for it to hit the underside of the crossbar and away from goal. A few minutes later, Brugge forward Gustaf Nilsson should’ve punished the visitors but threw away a golden one-on-one chance.
Forward Karim Adeyemi was a rare shining light for Dortmund’s attack, his pace and trickery putting the hosts under pressure, especially in the 54th minute when his movement allowed Marcel Sabitzer a glorious chance from close-range. Dortmund were in a similar pickle in their opening Bundesliga tie against Frankfurt, needing a gamechanger to step in. Jamie Gittens was ready to repeat those heroics, first completing a slick team move by drilling his deflected shot into the far corner. 10 minutes later, he skipped past a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before firing a picteresque goal. In practically the last kick of the game, another substitute Serhou Guirassy converted his penalty to ease the fears.
Celtic 5 – 1 Slovan Bratislava
Celtic have so far been successful in replicating domestic form in the Champions League. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Prior to their opener, Celtic had never won their first game of a Champions League campaign. Some 90 minutes and five goals later, that dreaded statistic has been sent on a speedy funeral. Slovan Bratislava’s euphoric highs after qualifying for the tournament were brought to a crashing low, with imminent doom palpable from the opening minutes. Celtic dominated possession and arguably should’ve ended up with more goals in the first half, with the hosts only converting from a 17th minute corner delivered by Arne Engels and headed by defender Liam Scales.
The second-half was pretty much a celebration of a team in top form. First, winger Nicholas-Gerrit Kühn set-up forward Kyogo Furuhashi for a simple finish in front of goal in the 47th minute. A few minutes later, Engels scored from the spot, helping home fans quickly forget about the departure of the talismanic Matt O’Riley. When Bratislava responded through a fantastic trivela finish from Kevin Wimmer in the 60th minute, the two-goal lead suddenly looked under threat. Hopes were shot down with as much ease as afforded to Daizen Maeda when nabbed his first UCL goal in the 70th minute. Adam Idah’s sizzling strike in the 86th minute was the cherry on the cake.
Traditional powerhouses started their Champions League campaign with some struggle, with Celtic being a freewheeling, goalscoring exception. Find out all the details in the match report. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
