Leipzig happy, while ManU and Paris are disillusioned

The cards are reshuffled in Group H of the Champions League. While Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Istanbul on Wednesday, Leipzig won 2-1 against Paris Saint-Germain.

Less than three months ago, Leipzig-Paris was a Champions League quarter-final poster. This time, it was in groups that the two teams faced each other and the stakes were no less important. It was above all a question of not losing, so as not to be far behind in the race for qualification in the round of 16.

In this game, it is Julian Nagelsmann’s men who come out with a smile. And yet, it was badly embarked for the Germans: led 1-0 in the 6th following a goal from Angel Di Maria and on the verge of taking the second ten minutes later, but the Argentinian saw his penalty stopped by Peter Gulsasci. Before Christopher Nkunku equalizes (42nd) and Emil Forsberg scores 2-1 from a penalty on the hour mark.

Enough to take second place in the group, with as many points as the leader ManU, while PSG ends up with three points, like Istanbul Basaksehir. Because Parisians are lucky. The chance to share this pool with Manchester United.

There is indeed something unpredictable with this ManU by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Sometimes capable of successful performances, the Red Devils also show enormous limits when they are forced to play. In Istanbul on Wednesday, the observation was also valid.

But more than the inability to produce, it was the repeated defensive lapses that marked this meeting. Both on the opener of Demba Ba as on the 2-0 of Edin Visca. Anthony Martial’s score reduction had no impact.

Dortmund in the lead

But this Champions League is long and compact, and there will still be three days to maintain the suspense. Borussia Dortmund have learned the lesson, after their inaugural loss to Lazio. Lucien Favre’s men took the lead in their group after their clear victory in Bruges (3-0).

If it was Thorgan Hazard who opened the scoring for Roman Bürki, Manuel Akanji (both started) and their teammates, it was Erling Braut Haaland who once again demonstrated the intensity of his relationship with the League of champions. The Norwegian has scored twice and is thirteen goals in just ten games in the most prestigious of club competitions. In the standings, Dortmund are ahead of Lazio (5 points, after 1-1 on Zenit Saint Petersburg) and Bruges (4 points).

As for Barcelona, ​​it is one of four clubs (along with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester City) to have refueled in this first half of the group stage. The Catalans beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1, with an early penalty from Leo Messi and a header from Gerard Pique. In this group, Juventus won 4-1 against Ferencvaros (doubles from Morata and Dybala).

In the last matches of the day, Chelsea keep the lead of their group after their 3-0 success against Rennes (doubled by Timo Werner from the penalty spot). Tied with Sevilla, who, at ten, recovered from a two-goal delay over Krasnodar to win 3-2.

/ ATS