Champions League: Liverpool Stunned in Naples, Barca Survives Dortmund

The new season of Champions League kicked off today. Arguably the most prominent soccer competition in the world started another campaign which will no doubt be even more interesting than the previous one.

And the initial results are backing up that claim. The reigning champions Liverpool lost in Naples, while Barcelona managed to get away from Dortmund undefeated although they didn’t deserve that.

Once again Napoli defeated the Reds in Italy. Following last year’s minimal triumph, they won 2-0 this time, but the similarity is that the Italians once again cracked L’pool’s defense in the late part of the game. At first Dries Mertes converted a penalty 8 minutes before the end, while former Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente sealed the result in the second minutes of the stoppage time.

Watch the Game Highlights from Napoli vs. Liverpool, 09/17/2019 https://t.co/X3jaIpxfjH

— GOAL Asia (@GOALasia) September 17, 2019

Liverpool’s coach Jurgen Klopp was very unhappy because of the penalty awarded to the home team. He claims that Napoli’s attacker Callejon acted the whole thing very well.

“I saw it again and it’s clear and obvious to me that Callejon jumped before he was touched. But there’s nothing we can do about that,” said the German.

In the second game of Group E, Austrian champs RB Salzburg annihilated the Belgian champions, Genk with 6-2. The teenager Erling Braut Håland scored a hat-trick on his UCL debut, becoming the youngest player to do so.

In the second big game of the night, Borussia Dortmund missed a perfect chance to defeat Barcelona, as the match at Signal Iduna Park ended without goals. The hero of the Spanish side was goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who not only saved a penalty to Marco Reus, but also had several incredible saves which made it possible for Blaugrana to head back home with one point in the bag.

Watch the Game Highlights from Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona, 09/17/2019 https://t.co/NOgBO8RKYV

— GOAL Asia (@GOALasia) September 17, 2019

The Millionaires were dominating the pitch throughout the majority of the contest, but it was either ter-Stegen or woodwork that prevented their attacks from materializing.

In the opening match of the same Group F, Slavia Prague made a massive surprise by holding out for a draw in Milan against the three-time European champions Inter. Peter Olayinka scored the opener for the guests, while Nicolo Barella leveled the score in the second minute of the stoppage time.

Chelsea suffered a loss at home to Valencia in Group H. The Blues couldn’t find a way to break the disciplined defense of the Bats. The guests scored after one set-piece, and the guy who beat Kepa was Rodrigo. But what makes this loss even more painful for Chelsea is the fact that they missed a penalty. Ross Barkley hit the post following a dispute with Willian and Jorgino. Three guys were arguing who will take the shot, and Barkley happened to be the most stubborn one.

Watch the Game Highlights from Chelsea vs. Valencia CF, 09/17/2019 https://t.co/QATxZ3pCW3

— GOAL Asia (@GOALasia) September 17, 2019

“Ross is a penalty-taker,” stated Frank Lampard, the Blues’ boss at the press conference, “he has been when he starts the games. That’s why he took it. It’s a great story to say there’s contention between players. There isn’t. Ross took it and missed.”

In the second game of the same assembly, Ajax easily defeated Lilles with 3-0.

And in Group G, Red Bull Leipzig started its campaign with a massive triumph on the road. The German club beat Benfica 1-2, with Timo Werner netting twice.

Lyon and the Russian champions Zenit played 1-1 in France, in one rather pale match without anything impressive in it.