Liverpool FC has won its first game in the Champions League after the Jürgen Klopp era. The English team under new coach Arne Slot deservedly won 3-1 (2-1) against AC Milan and showed great improvement after the surprising 0-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest in the domestic league on Saturday.
Milan got off to a perfect start after three minutes thanks to former Dortmund player Christian Pulisic. However, Liverpool pressed in the middle of the first half, with Ibrahima Konaté (23rd minute) and captain Virgil van Dijk (41st minute) heading the Reds into the lead. Former Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai increased the lead to 3-1 (67th minute). The fatal accident of a Liverpool fan, who died near the airport in the Italian city of Bergamo on Tuesday, overshadowed the guests’ joy at the victory.
In addition to the defeat, the Italians suffered another setback: French national goalkeeper Mike Maignan was injured in a collision and had to be substituted (51′). On matchday 2, AC Milan will be visiting German champions Bayer Leverkusen in two weeks.
19-year-old scores in Juve’s win
Juventus Turin started the Bundesliga double with a convincing win over PSV Eindhoven. RB Leipzig’s next opponent won comfortably against the Dutch title holders with 3:1 (2:0). On the second matchday, the Turin team will be guests of the Bundesliga club from Saxony. Almost three weeks later, VfB Stuttgart will travel to Turin.
The opening goal by Turkish international Kenan Yildiz in the 21st minute was not only the first goal in the reformed premier class, which now has 36 clubs. At 19 years and 136 days, Yildiz is the youngest Juve goalscorer in the Champions League. Club icon Alessandro Del Piero was 20 years and 308 days old when the team won 3-1 against Borussia Dortmund in September 1995.
Former Bundesliga pros Weston McKennie (27th) and Nicolás González (52nd) were the other goal scorers for Italy’s record champions. Ismael Saibari was only able to reduce the deficit in injury time (90th+3).
Next Bayern opponent wins at premiere
The Champions League debut was a success for Aston Villa. The English Premier League club beat Swiss champions Young Boys Bern 3-0 (2-0). Youri Tielemans (27th), Jacob Ramsey (38th) and former Hamburg player Amadou Onana (86th) scored for Bayern Munich’s next Champions League opponent. The club from Birmingham will host the German record champions on October 2nd. Sporting Lisbon started with a 2-0 (1-0) win against OSC Lille.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240917-930-235422/2
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