STORY AND PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOWMAX
After a thrilling, event-filled opening to the UEFA Champions League that offered DStv and Showmax Pro viewers a choice of 16 matches on SuperSport, here’s the lowdown of all the moments of intrigue going into matchday two.
What is going on with Liverpool?
First it was a questionable performance against Manchester United that raised eyebrows, then they suffer a 4-1 thrashing at Napoli in their opening Champions League game. What is going on in the Liverpool defence?
At Old Trafford, it was Virgil van Dijk who was derided for his passive, hands-behind-the-back defending as he impersonated a hostage. In Naples, Trent Alexander-Arnold was the main culprit as he was torn to shreds by Khvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia in particular, but in truth it was a group effort that led to such a shambles.
After already losing valuable ground to Manchester City in the league, the Reds can’t afford to slip up again in Europe.
Next up is a visit from Ajax, who looked particularly impressive in scoring four goals themselves against Rangers.
Haaland vs Lewandowski for the top scorer?
The age of Messi and Ronaldo dominating the scoring may be over, but the days of the top of the goalscoring charts being dominated by obscene numbers are far from over.
Matchday one saw two worthy combatants throw their hat into this season’s top scorer ring. First it was Erling Haaland, who looks more like a programmed scoring machine more than a footballer. His brace against Sevilla seemed almost effortless.
Then came Robert Lewandowski, who promptly became the first man to score hat-tricks for three European teams when he netted three for Barcelona against Viktoria Plzen.
Watch this space, preferably with a calculator.
Are PSG the real deal?
Kylian Mbappe might be waving at us after the previous question, but there are more pressing doubts to handle when it comes to PSG.
In this mega-wealthy regime that won’t stop trying to buy success in this tournament until they actually buy it, the annual question to ask is whether this is the Parisian vintage that’ll bring I the cup?
There were glorious-looking moments in their win against Juventus, but there was enough flakiness in the second half particularly to suggest that they are still the grouping of talented individuals that’ll come unstuck by lesser footballers who have come together better as a team.
Are there more sackings to come?
Thomas Tuchel got the sack shortly after Chelsea’s opening game followed by Domenico Tedesco after RB Leipzig’s loss. Are any others going to fall by the wayside?
In the case of Tuchel, it seemed that a defeat in Zagreb was a final straw for new owner Todd Boehly after spending about £270 million pounds on players. If only he backed his manager in the transfer market.
As for Domenico Tedesco, a home humiliation from Shakthar Donetsk was too much for the powers-that-be at RB Leipzig. After all, they’re already the most hated club in Germany for their affiliation with Austrian-based Red Bull. They can’t be the most humiliated club as well.
One matchday done, two managers down. Who’s next?
Is there another romantic win for Shakhtar?
Many people turn to sports stories to actively avoid reading about war, but in the case of Shakhtar Donetsk, you can’t simply separate the two.
In their first Champions League match since the war between Russia and their native Ukraine began, Shakhtar pulled off a stunning win away from home that launched emotional scenes that would inspire any neutral.
As for many Ukrainians, it’s just been a tragic period for those at the club. One of their coaches was killed in the conflict. Plenty of their squad have been forced to leave. Most of us can’t imagine the devastation their fans have suffered in the last few months. Sure, winning a football game doesn’t solve their problems, but it does offer a beautiful moment of respite.
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