The day after a rich opening night, the first day of the Champions League ended on European lawns, Wednesday, September 7. In the very tough Group C, Bayern and Barça both started with a victory, while Napoli created a surprise by dominating Liverpool.
The performance: Unrecognizable Liverpool
The Reds fell from above. After a difficult start to the season in the Premier League, the finalists of the 2021-2022 edition thought they could afford a breather on the European scene. But at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, they were suffocated by a great night Napoli team. Piotr Zielinski opened the way for the Italians from the penalty spot in the 5th minute, after a handball from James Milner. Zambo Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone also went there with their achievement to bring the score to 3-0 at the break.
Again overwhelmed as soon as they returned from the locker room, for the fourth Neapolitan goal, the English drank the chalice to the dregs. Luis Diaz’s closing gap was not enough to reverse the trend. Jürgen Klopp’s players, who took a big hit on the head, are already in last place in Group A.
The player: a hat-trick for Robert Lewandowski in his new colors
Facing Viktoria Plzen’s little thumb, Robert Lewandowski had fun for his first European match in the Barça jersey. Available at the forefront of the blaugrana attack, well served by his teammates, the Pole offered himself a hat-trick
Two almost consistent goals from a curled shot with the right foot (34th and 67th) and a diving header (45th + 3): the Pole showed off his prolific goalscoring palette. Above all, he becomes the first player in history to score a hat-trick with three different teams (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona).
1 – Robert Lewandowski is the first player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League with 3 different teams (1 with Dortmund, 4 with Bayern Munich, 1 with Barcelona). Prolific. #BARPLZ pic.twitter.com/gndEekYckr
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 7, 2022
Around the Pole, Frank Kessie (13th) and Ferran Torres (71st) completed Barça’s easy success against the Czechs of Plzen (5-1).
The shock: intractable, Bayern defeats Inter Milan
The big shock of the first day turned in favor of Bayern Munich. Guided by a very good Leroy Sané, the Bavarians dominated Inter Milan at San Siro (2-0). The German concretized the big Bavarian domination (21 shots, 11 on target) by coming close to the double. Author of the opening of the score on a marvel of sequence control with the end of the foot, dribble on the goalkeeper (25th), he pushed Danilo D’Ambrosio on goal against his side (66th) after a nice combination with Kingsley Coman.
[ VIDÉO BUT] #InterFCB
Oh the wonder of Leroy Sané!
The Bayern Munich striker opens the scoring against Inter Milan after a devastating sequence!
With crazy control! pic.twitter.com/s2u1mp7zJq— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) September 7, 2022
In a particularly high group C (the same as Barcelona and Plzen), Julian Nagelsmann’s men begin their C1 with a magnificent operation thanks to this success away from home. They will try to confirm, Tuesday September 13, with the reception of Barcelona.
The other results: Ajax and Sporting well launched, Atlético crack Porto
First teams to hit the lawns earlier in the evening, Ajax Amsterdam and Sporting Portugal put on a great show for their supporters. At home, the Dutch outclassed Glasgow Rangers (4-0). The Portuguese went to win on the lawn of Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0), who will find OM on the second day.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Napoli’s display, Lewandowski’s hat-trick, Griezmann’s winner. What a night! #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 7, 2022
On its Wanda Metropolitano lawn, Atlético de Madrid won the craziest victory of the evening. The Spaniards were delivered by Griezmann in the 11th minute of added time (2-1), after opening the scoring in the 91st minute, and conceding the equalizer a few minutes later. In the same group, Brugge won at home against Bayer Leverkusen (1-0).