The big names, this little music, and a high level show, no doubt, the Champions League is back. This first evening of the 2022-2023 financial year did not disappoint, especially for PSG, well launched in their quest for the Holy Grail after a convincing success against Juventus Turin (2-1). If Kylian Mbappé shone, not all the French players present on European lawns had such a happy evening, starting with his attacking partner in Blues, Karim Benzema.
Hit in the knee, Karim Benzema worried
Nine days before the announcement of the next list of Didier Deschamps, Karim Benzema left with a knee injury after half an hour against Celtic Glasgow. The French striker, favorite for the Ballon d’Or and leader of Real Madrid, European champion last season, had to give way to Eden Hazard. Without his providential striker, and without really an idea, the formation of Carlo Ancelotti however made the difference in the second period (0-3).
[ VIDÉO] #CelticRealMadrid
Big blow for Karim Benzema, hit in the right knee…
The French must give way to Eden Hazard! https://t.co/8hDIshu93S— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) September 6, 2022
The first signs are worrying, awaiting further examinations. Two months before the World Cup, the entire management of the France team can also hold their breath. On one side, “KB9” left the field walking, after trying to continue the game, but not on a stretcher. “We think it’s not too serious, he already has no more pain”, reassured Carlo Ancelotti at the microphone of BeIN Sports after the meeting. According to the merengue coach, it is more a muscle problem than a joint problem.
Erling Haaland still blazes
He had made his debut in the Champions League with Salzburg by scoring, uninhibited. He had done the same for his first European under the colors of Borussia Dortmund. How could it be otherwise this Tuesday with Manchester City? Erling Haaland is irresistible and Sevilla FC paid the price. The Norwegian scored twice in an undisputed victory for Pep Guardiola’s troops in Andalusia (4-0). Here he is with eleven goals scored in eight matches under the Mancunian tunic, 25 in 20 matches in C1. Simply unplayable.
Matches #UCL to reach 25 goals! ⚽️
1️⃣ Erling Haaland 20
2️⃣ Ruud van Nistelrooy 30
3️⃣ Filippo Inzaghi 30
4️⃣ Mario Gomez 39
5️⃣ Karim Benzema 41
6️⃣Lionel Messi 42
7️⃣ Robert Lewandowski 42
8️⃣ Kylian Mbappe 42#Haaland | #ManCity | @ManCityFra pic.twitter.com/8ci6wNOvNA— UEFA (@UEFAcom_fr) September 6, 2022
Chelsea and Fofana miss their debuts
Finalist in 2021, Chelsea could hardly start their campaign less well this year. The Blues fell from the start on the lawn of Dinamo Zagreb (1-0). Thomas Tuchel’s team multiplied the opportunities (15 shots to 6, a post, 61% possession) without ever managing to find the fault. Unlike Dinamo, who took control of the match on their first real chance, from the 13th minute thanks to Mislav Orsic. The Croatian beat Frenchman Wesley Fofana, Chelsea’s star rookie of the summer, on a 50-meter sprint before concluding. Not the best way to discover the Champions League.
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Another promising tricolor defender, Mohamed Simakan, scored, but could not avoid the rout of Leipzig against Shakhtar Donetsk (1-4). Borussia Dortmund largely dominated Copenhagen (3-0). AC Milan was held in check by Salzburg (1-1). Finally, in the PSG group, Benfica dominated Maccabi Haifa (2-0).