The second round of the Champions League group stage has come to an end, providing fans with belated drama, upsets and plenty of goals. We asked writers Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland, and Mark Ogden to answer some of our burning questions.
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What caught your attention from day two?
Kirkland: Last year’s winner, Real Madridhave a bad habit of playing in their first Champions League game of the season at the Bernabeu – they were beaten 2-1 by unknown police chief Tiraspol last year, losing 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020 and come back to draw 2-2 with Club Brugge in 2019 – but no such slippage this time against RB Leipzig.
The away team looked dangerous, creating some early chances, but it was Madrid who were more cautious: Fede Valverde opened the scoring with his fifth goal in his past six games Marco Asensio complete the job in extra time.
Dawson: Club Brugge never made it past the group stage, but after beating FC Porto 4-0 in Portugal on Tuesday, Belgium top Group B with two wins and two. On the first day, they defeated Bayer Leverkusenwho scored an impressive result of their own on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Atlético Madrid.
That means Club Brugge is three points clear at the top after two games before the return games against Atletico in October. Although they are only the lowest ranked seeds in the group, they have given themselves a great chance to make it to the knockout stages.
Ogden: By Joao Cancelo pass. Everyone will be right about the audacity of Erling Haaland‘s late goal City of Manchester in their 2-1 win over his old club Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad – a left-footed volley in the far corner – but you won’t see a better pass all season in which Cancelo gave Haaland a goal.
Cancelo, the right-footed left-back of Man City, put the ball into the Dortmund box with his right foot and the cut missed the keeper, allowing Haaland to score. It was a beautiful pass that only a world-class player could make.
Which big clubs will struggle to reach the knockout stages?
Kirkland: Atletico Madrid never had an easy time in the group. In each of the past three seasons, they only confirmed their entry into the knockout stages on Fridays, needing to win by a margin. FC Salzburg in 2020-21 and Porto in 2021-22. This year, Atletico’s Group B can be just as unpredictable, and another trip to Porto on November 1 could be decisive.
– O’Hanlon: Ranking every Champions League team this season (E+)
As for other LaLiga teams, Barcelona did enough in the defeat to Bayern to show last year’s group stage elimination won’t be repeated, while Seville are struggling with a point from two games.
Dawson: Rangers have returned to the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2010, but they find it difficult to return. At the bottom of Group A after 2 losses and with a record of no goals scored and 7 conceded, it will be difficult to qualify from here.
They may have been aiming to finish in third to earn a Europa League spot, but even that will be a big question mark with matches against them. Liverpool next. They need six points from their two remaining home games against Liverpool and Ajax for any chance left in Europe after Christmas.
Ogden: It’s not good for Juventuswho still haven’t won any points in Group H after losing in a row before Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica. Juve lost Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt and Giorgio Chiellini since the end of last season, while signing an injured summer contract Paul Pogba are facing weeks on the sidelines, so it is difficult to see how Massimiliano Allegri’s team can get out of this hole.
If they can’t win twice first Maccabi Haifa in the next two games, it will all end with the Italian giants.
Who is the most impressive young player under the age of 21?
Kirkland: The end result didn’t go their way but Pedal (19) and Gavi (18) shows why they are current and future midfielders for Barcelona – and Spain – in a 0-2 loss at Bayern. The performance was good enough to show that Barca are once again a team to be taken seriously at this level.
Elsewhere, one choice under the radar is Sevilla’s right-back Jose Angel Carmona (20). He’s had a pretty good week, scoring twice in a 3-2 LaLiga win at Espanyol over the weekend and looked like one of Sevilla’s best players in a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen in just his second Champions League appearance.
Dawson: Jurrien Wood associated with moving to Manchester United in the summer. You can see why after his performance for Ajax against Liverpool on Tuesday. Ajax lost the match at Anfield 2-1 thanks to a late goal Joel Matip but Timber’s valuation will only increase after another impressive performance.
In addition, the 21-year-old Dutch international has shown maturity when playing in a complex position, as he has been pushed up midfield from a central defender position. He may not make his move this summer, but it may only be a matter of time before European heavyweights call back.
Ogden: Jude Bellingham produced another top-quality performance and a goal in Borussia Dortmund’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday, but the 19-year-old midfielder appears to have been in the Champions League for years. If you are looking for young players to burst onto the scene, then Club Brugge defender Abakar Sylla was the breakout teenager this season. At just 19 years old, the Ivory has played brilliantly for Belgium, they have won 2 of their 2 matches and are top of Group B so far.
