After the qualifications of Bayern Munich and Juventus Turin the day before, the evening of Wednesday November 3 validated that of Liverpool. In the other direction, Leipzig and Besiktas joined Malmö in the club of teams already assured of not making the round of 16 of the competition. In terms of individual performances, those of Karim Benzema, double scorer against Shakhtar Donetsk, and Sadio Mané illuminated the evening.
Benzema a little more in history
If you still needed arguments to defend Karim Benzema’s candidacy for the 2021 Ballon d’Or, the Frenchman gave a few more on Wednesday night. The French international (92 caps, 33 goals) scored both goals in Real Madrid’s difficult victory against Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1). Not the best of his prolific career, but not the least important.
In addition to allowing Real Madrid to be the first team to reach the 1,000 goal mark in C1, he took the opportunity to beat his own record of goals in a calendar year, club and selection combined (37 in 2021). He is now involved in 100 goals in the Champions League. Since his debut in the competition in 2005-06, he is the only one with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to have reached this symbolic bar.
1000 – Thanks to the achievement of Karim Benzema, Real Madrid are the first team in history to score 1000 goals in C1 (qualifying included). Cock-a-doodle Doo. #RMASHA pic.twitter.com/H4r6AKTRYR
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 3, 2021
Atlético sees red, Liverpool in eighth
This time, there will be no debate between the two teams. Without Griezmann, double scorer before being sent off in the first leg, Atlético de Madrid did not exist at Anfield against Liverpool (2-0). Diogo Jota then Sadio Mané got the better of Madrid’s hopes, also deprived of Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente, injured. Two goals only as the bill could have been saltier if Jan Oblak had not taken out the heated gloves.
But reduced to ten after the more than contentious expulsion of Felipe on a trifle against Mané, Diego Simeone’s men were quite powerless and let the Reds slip away in the eighth.
For Atlético, it will now be necessary to aim for second place. With four points, the Colchoneros are in third position one length behind Porto, author of a draw against AC Milan (1-1), which is still in the race for qualification.
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City, head and shoulders
While the PSG fell back into its failures against Leipzig by conceding a draw in the last moments, Manchester City made in the classic against Bruges. All-terrain pressing, no respite and a large victory (4-1). Despite a first period in trompe-l’oeil so much the Mancuniens harvested. John Stones even went from his own goal against his camp to allow the equalization of the Belgians, but Guardiola’s men avoided a bad joke and took the reins of the group.