BY Jonathan Ledger
Barcelona started their UCL season with a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven at the Camp Nou stadium, thanks to a Lionel Messi hat trick and a brilliant individual strike by Ousmanne Dembele.
The first goal was a brilliant free kick just outside the penalty area while the 30-year old’s second and third were first-time shots from the six-yard box off two brilliant passes.
French speedster, Dembele, scored the best goal of the night.
The 21-year-old dribbled past two PSV players Zidane-esque style and curled into the right corner from 25 yards out. Barcelona’s fourth goal came after they were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of defender, Samuel Umtiti for a second bookable offence.
In the match of the day, Liverpool showed their European pedigree with a 3-2 win over PSG via a last minute Roberto Firmino goal after initially squandering a two-goal lead at home.
Striker, Daniel Sturridge, scored on the half-hour mark through a header from a brilliant Andrew Robertson cross. Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe had an opportunity to restore parity immediately after but he blazed wide from inside the area.
It was Liverpool who would extend their lead six minutes later through a James Milner penalty. Juan Bernat tripped Gorginio Wijnaldum in the box and the 33-year-old tireless midfielder converted for a 2-0 lead.
In a frantic first half full of attacking verve from both sides, Thomas Tuchel’s PSG halved the deficit five minutes from the interval through wingback, Thomas Meunier. The Belgian side-footed home Di Maria’s deflected cross which fell kindly for him after hitting Robertson’s leg.
The Parisiens laboured through the second half but were bailed out by their wonderkid, Kylian Mbappe. The 19-year old World Cup winner pounced on the ball to side foot home from inside the area to silence the Kop. The Anfield giants, finalists in last season’s campaign, however, had the last laugh when Roberto Firmino scored the winner in added time. The Brazilian striker created a yard of space for himself before drilling into the bottom corner to condemn PSG to a 3-2 defeat.
In Italy, Inter Milan announced their return to Europe’s premier club competition following a six-year absence with a comeback 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur of England. Mauricio Pochettino would be deeply disappointed in his players who let in two goals in the last five minutes at the San Siro stadium.
Christian Eriksen gave Spurs the lead eight minutes into the second half through a deflected volley and had numerous opportunities to put the game to bed against a rather lethargic Inter team. Luciano Spalletti’s side, however, found their verve late on to equalised in spectacular fashion. Captain, Mauro Icardi, volleyed Kwandwo Asamoah’s deep cross into the bottom corner from outside the area on 85 minutes, while Matias Vecino headed in the winner in injury time to hand Inter a stunning return to a competition they won in 2010.
RESULTS
Barcelona 4 – 0 PSV
Inter Milan 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Club Brugge 0 – 1 Borussia Dortmund
Monaco 1 – 2 Atlético Madrid
Liverpool 3 – 2 PSG
Crvena Zvezda 0 – 0 Napoli
Galatasaray 3 – 0 Lokomotiv Moskva
Schalke 04 1 – 1 Porto
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