Manchester City made a sluggish begin to their Champions League marketing campaign as they drew 0-0 in opposition to Inter Milan on Wednesday, whereas Paris Saint-Germain wanted a last-minute aim to beat event newcomers Girona. Pep Guardiola’s facet have received all 4 of their Premier League video games this season however failed to interrupt down Italian champions Inter in a repeat of the 2023 ultimate received by City. City misplaced Kevin De Bruyne to damage at half-time and Phil Foden fired straight at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with their greatest likelihood as Erling Haaland was stored quiet on an evening he was chasing his a hundredth aim for the English membership.
“It was a really intense sport in opposition to a powerful opponent. We knew what was coming, they’re a high group as effectively and they’re used to profitable, so we weren’t going to have a simple job,” City defender Ruben Dias informed TNT Sports.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan might have received it for Inter when he blazed over quarter-hour from time, permitting City to increase their unbeaten run within the competitors to 24 matches — one off the file set by Manchester United between 2007 and 2009.
It is simply the second time in 42 residence Champions League video games beneath Guardiola that City have failed to attain.
“Our plan was to point out that we’re not scared to play right here,” stated Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
PSG seemed as if they might additionally should accept some extent in opposition to European debutants Girona, who’re backed by the City Football Group and ran Real Madrid shut for a number of months in Spain final season earlier than coming third.
However, a goalkeeping blunder from Paulo Gazzaniga within the ninetieth minute resulted in Nuno Mendes’ cross squirming by his grasp and handed the French champions victory.
“It was a troublesome sport, they are a group that performs effectively with the ball,” Mendes informed Canal Plus.
“I used to be stunned (by the aim). The goalkeeper was there and it obtained by.”
Super-sub Gittens propels Dortmund
Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, overwhelmed by Madrid within the ultimate, had English winger Jamie Gittens to thank because the 20-year-old got here off the bench and scored twice in a 3-0 win at Club Brugge.
Serhou Guirassy added a stoppage-time penalty for his first Dortmund aim since arriving in the summertime from Stuttgart.
Celtic started in model by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow, profitable their opening sport within the Champions League for the primary time in 13 makes an attempt.
Liam Scales’ highly effective header put Celtic forward and the hosts struck once more by Kyogo Furuhashi early within the second half earlier than Arne Engels transformed a penalty for 3-0.
Kevin Wimmer pulled one again with a advantageous strike for the Slovak champions, who got here by 4 rounds of qualifying, however Celtic pulled away with additional objectives from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.
“It’s a incredible night time,” Celtic captain Callum McGregor informed TNT Sports.
“I hope the supporters loved it as a result of the managers and gamers did. This is the following degree for the group by way of development and improvement.”
Bologna drew 0-0 at residence to Shakhtar Donetsk within the Italian group’s first ever Champions League match. Lukasz Skorupski saved an early penalty from Shakhtar’s Georgiy Sudakov.
Sparta Prague swept Red Bull Salzburg apart 3-0 with objectives from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci, because the Czech champions received for the primary time within the competitors correct since 2003.
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