Category sport-news

A double from Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez and a valiant defensive effort handed Dutch side Feyenoord a shock 3-0 Champions League win over Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The surprise defeat means that Bayern, six times champions of Europe, will more than likely face a play-off match to advance into the last-16.

“We are not afraid of the Champions League playoffs. If we have to go in there, then we have to go in,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.

“You have to earn the top eight. And the format was designed precisely to create tension. But like I said: you have to earn it. ”

On a rain-swept night in Rotterdam, Feyenoord belied their poor recent domestic form, holding firm at the back and hitting their illustrious opponents with rapid counter-attacks.

Bayern dominated possession in a cagey opening quarter as both sides struggled with driving rain and a slippery surface.

Feyenoord had made no secret of their strategy to hit Bayern on the break and it was a pinpoint long ball by left-back Gijs Smal that broke the deadlock after 21 minutes.

Smal’s pass perfectly bisected the Bayern defence and was brilliantly collected by Gimenez, who curled the ball past the veteran Manuel Neuer.

Falling behind seemed to galvanise the visitors, who nearly equalised when French winger Kingsley Coman fizzed the ball across the goal but there was no one to tap in.

England’s Harry Kane had a gilt-edged change to open Bayern’s account deep into the first half but could only fire his shot into Feyenoord’s defence from close range.

Bayern pressed hard but Feyenoord defended stoutly and again hit the Germans on the break in the ninth minute of added time at the end of the first period.

Raphael Guerreiro was adjudged to have fouled Calvin Stengs in the box, Gimenez making no mistake from the spot, sending the ever-boisterous fans in De Kuip into raptures and Feyenoord into a 2-0 half-time lead.

The second half saw wave after wave of German attacks but they could not find a way to unlock the well-organised Feyenoord defence and beat the excellent Justin Bijlow in goal.

Playmaker Jamal Musiala forced a sharp save from point-blank range on 60 minutes as Feyenoord sat ever deeper, every tackle cheered as if the game were won.

Bijlow tipped over a powerful Musiala header and the home fans breathed a sigh of relief when the post kept out an effort from substitute Leroy Sane.

With seven minutes to play, Kompany brought on Germany legend Thomas Mueller and he made an immediate impact, sliding through a pass that nearly played in Sane.

But even Mueller could not break down the wall and substitute Ayase Ueda put the icing on the cake with a third on 89 minutes to seal a famous night for the Feyenoord faithful.

Bayern next face winless Slovan Bratislava at home, while Feyenoord wrap up their Champions League campaign away at Lille.

Rafael Leao boosted AC Milan’s chances of direct qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League with a brilliant goal in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Girona.

Portugal winger Leao lashed in his eighth goal of the season after some dazzling dribbling in the 37th minute at the San Siro to give Milan their fifth straight win in the competition.

Sergio Conceicao’s team are sixth on 15 points after seven matches and are guaranteed at least a spot in the play-offs, as well as having a great chance of a top-eight finish with their final league phase fixture at Dinamo Zagreb.

Leao’s goal was reward for a fine individual display from a player who has the reputation for drifting in and out of matches and had a poor relationship with Conceicao’s predecessor Paulo Fonseca.

“It was a big match for us in terms of getting through… that’s our objective, to go through to the next round (directly),” said Leao to Prime Video.

“We’re starting to understand what the coach wants from us… He’s trying to help me as a man and as a player and I’m trying to get to grips with what he wants from me. ”

Girona’s maiden Champions League campaign will go no further than the visit of Arsenal next week as Michel’s team are seven points from the play-offs and as a result eliminated.

La Liga outfit Girona would have come away from northern Italy with more had it not been for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who pulled off three superb saves late in the first half to keep the hosts ahead.

Conceicao demanded more hunger from his players after Milan slumped to defeat at rivals Juventus at the weekend, and the Serie A team deserved the win against a backdrop of frustrated fans again chanting for American owners RedBird to sell the club.

“We’re in a transitional period, there’s still lots of work to do,” said Conceicao.

“Some things are going well, other things not so well. That’s part of my job with the boys. But tonight the result is the most important thing. ”

READ ALSO: Shakhtar Deal Blow To Brest’s Champions League Last-16 Ambitions

Maignan to rescue

The hosts should have already been ahead before the 24th minute, when Theo Hernandez somehow didn’t score after being laid on for a sitter by Leao.

Leao was sent surging behind the Girona defence by a brilliant Tijjani Reijnders pass and rolled across a perfect low ball to Hernandez, who scuffed his finish onto the bar.

Yunus Musah, who should have scored an early chance, then crashed a low shot off the upright five minutes later as Milan pressed for an opener.

Maignan had to be at his best to stop Girona taking a shock lead twice in a few minutes, the France goalkeeper sticking out a leg to stop Donny van de Beek after the Dutch midfielder and keeping out Viktor Tsygankov’s snapshot.

The grumbles beginning to be heard around the San Siro soon turned into cheers after a moment of magic from Leao, who collected Ismael Bennacer’s pass, cut onto his right before quickly switching back to his trusty left foot which he then used to roof a perfect finish.

But Milan only led at the break thanks to Maignan, who again saved his disjointed defence deep in stoppage time by getting his studs to Yangel Herrera’s close-range strike.

The second was much lower key, with Bryan Gil’s fizzing strike for Girona ruled out for a razor-thin offside being the only real incident of a match which ended with Conceicao’s first Champions League win as Milan coach.

Champions League holders Real Madrid got back on track in Europe with a 5-1 victory over RB Salzburg on Wednesday to ensure they will not be eliminated at the first hurdle.

Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes struck twice each with French superstar Kylian Mbappe also on target in a ruthless display at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost three of their first six games in a worrying start to the competition and will likely have to compete in the extra play-off round in February which is part of the competition’s new format, unless they can scrape a top-eight spot.

Victory left Los Blancos 16th, a point behind Bayer Leverkusen in eighth, which is the final spot for direct qualification to the last 16.

Brazilian winger Rodrygo struck twice in the first half to help Madrid take control, with Mbappe netting soon after the break and Vinicius grabbing a brace of his own to bring up a century of goals for the club.

“I’m very happy after reaching 100 goals with this shirt,” Vinicius told Movistar, noting he was close to Brazilian compatriot Ronaldo Nazario’s tally of 104.

“I hope to be able to continue like this and score a lot of goals, and mark an era in this team — that’s my dream. ”

Defeats by Liverpool, AC Milan and Lille put Madrid under pressure ahead of their final two group matches and their Austrian visitors started with vim, pinning back Los Blancos.

Madrid created little of note until Rodrygo’s opener after 23 minutes changed the dynamic of the game.

The winger, in sensational form in recent weeks with eight goals in his last nine games across all competitions, finished neatly after Jude Bellingham nudged a cross into his path at the back post.

His second goal was even better, set up by Bellingham with a brilliant backheel, which Rodrygo finished first time with a crisp curling strike.

“It’s so easy to play with Jude, he makes everything easy, the movements he makes, his second assist was very nice and I love playing with him,” said Rodrygo.

READ ALSO:  Champions League: Arsenal Beat Dinamo To Stay On Course For Last 16

  ‘Goals never a problem’ 

Mbappe notched the third early in the second half, pinching the ball from Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and tapping home to continue his own recent run of fine form after a shaky start to life at Madrid.

Veteran midfielder Luka Modric sent Vinicius down the left with a fine pass for Madrid’s fourth, and the Brazilian finished with a powerful drive across Blaswich.

Vinicius netted again after Fede Valverde burst down the middle and put him through after a slick team breakaway, with the forward stroking home with ease after losing his marker.

Mads Bidstrup slapped home a volley late on to offer Salzburg scant consolation, as well as carrying on Madrid’s unenviable run of conceding in each of their Champions League outings this season.

Despite the late set-back, Madrid’s demolition job was just what they needed to settle nerves after their poor start.

“We’ve been through difficult moments we didn’t want to,” admitted Rodrygo.

“But this victory in the Champions League, that we needed, will give us a lot of confidence to keep going now with the big challenges ahead of us. ”

Ancelotti said Bellingham was taken off in the second half with back discomfort but said it was “nothing” too problematic, and was largely happy with his team’s display.

“Scoring goals will never be a problem with these players,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“I will try to improve the team in defence, because that’s the key to success, for me it’s what we have to get better at. ”

Shakhtar Donetsk eased to a 2-0 win against Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, denting the high-flying French side’s hopes of earning an automatic spot in the last-16.

First-half goals from Brazilian forward Kevin and Georgiy Sudakov proved the difference as the Ukrainian side won at their adopted home ground in Germany to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knock-outs.

“It was a fantastic performance from my team. I’m very proud,” said Shakhtar coach Marino Pusic.

“We played a very mature game and a fantastic first half. My only complaint is we only scored two goals. We controlled the second half, too, and didn’t allow them to come back. ”

READ ALSO: Champions League: Arsenal Beat Dinamo To Stay On Course For Last 16

Brest were already assured of a place in at least the play-off round for the last-16 stage before kick-off thanks to their tally of 13 points.

However, just their second defeat in seven outings in Europe this term left them in 11th place.

“It was a magnificent match to play,” said Brest boss Eric Roy.

“There was nothing to lose and on the contrary (we could) go and win something fantastic, without any pressure, because… our Champions League, whatever happens, is already a success. ”

Brest can still ensure direct qualification to the round of 16 with a top-eight finish, but will have to beat reigning champions Real Madrid at home next week to do so.

For Shakhtar, the victory moved them provisionally to within one point of a knock-out play-off spot.

Brest have been one of the revelations of the tournament in their debut season in the Champions League.

Going into the penultimate round of games, they sat above powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City and compatriots Paris Saint-Germain, but it was their unfancied opponents who took the lead.

Centre-half Brendan Chardonnet took a heavy touch from an agricultural clearance, which allowed Kevin to steal the ball before racing through and finishing one-on-one with 18 minutes gone.

Another long ball from deep presented Shakhtar with a golden chance to double their lead on the half-hour, Eguinaldo’s effort beating Marco Bizot but trickling the wrong side of the far post.

Sudakov did then get a deserved second for Shakhtar seven minutes later with a Panenka penalty, won after Bizot took out Irakli Azarov as he ran onto the Ukrainian playmaker’s inch-perfect through ball.

Brest searched for a way back into the match in the second period but struggled to break down Shakhtar’s rearguard, with goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk swift off his line to deal with any balls into the box.

Roy made a triple change on the hour, including sending on the club’s topscorer this season Abdallah Sima.

However, Shakhtar held firm and Oleksandr Zubkov then looked to have added a third deep in injury time, but the goal was disallowed for a foul earlier in the build-up.

“It’s incomprehensible that in the first half-hour we didn’t play at all,” added a frustrated Roy.

“The two goals we conceded were largely avoidable. And I’m not even talking about the first one, because the first one was almost a gag. ”

The Ukrainian champions’ second win of the campaign moved them up to 27th place in the standings on seven points.

Arsenal moved within touching distance of the Champions League last 16 after Declan Rice’s goal in just 106 seconds inspired their 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side raced into the lead in their penultimate league phase fixture thanks to Rice’s clinical finish.

Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard netted in the second half at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal climbed to third place in the standings.

Arsenal have won five of their seven league phase matches, losing just once, and are almost certain to finish in the top eight, which secures automatic qualification for the last 16.

The north Londoners, who have never won the Champions League, travel to Girona for their last match in the league phase next week knowing a point will guarantee a top-eight berth.

With Arsenal holding a three-point lead over a group of teams below eighth place, even a defeat could still send them through given their superior goal difference.

This was a much-needed victory for Arsenal after last weekend’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, in which the Gunners blew a two-goal lead to dent their Premier League title hopes.

Arsenal have won just two of their last six games in all competitions and moving to the brink of the Champions League last 16 is a welcome boost following their FA Cup exit against 10-man Manchester United and League Cup semi-final first leg loss to Newcastle.

Arteta had urged his players to take advantage of their “strong position” in the league phase by winning on home turf against a Dinamo team fighting to secure a place in the knockout stage play-offs.

They rose to the challenge as Arteta’s decision to play Jakub Kiwior in central defence in the absence of the injured William Saliba was rewarded.

READ ALSO: Shakhtar Deal Blow To Brest’s Champions League Last-16 Ambitions

Havertz strikes 

Jurrien Timber had struggled in the heart of Arteta’s defence in the Villa game, but Kiwior was more comfortable alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

Arsenal made a flying start in the second minute as Gabriel Martinelli surged down the left flank and crossed towards Havertz, whose cushioned pass was lashed home by Rice from 10 yards.

The Gunners’ quickest Champions League goal since 2014 provoked an angry response from Dinamo fans, with Rice pelted with plastic cups when he took a corner moments after his opener.

Rice was unfazed and his goal-bound drive was blocked by Dinamo captain Arijan Ademi before Gabriel headed just wide from Odegaard’s corner.

Gabriel screamed in frustration after that miss and Arteta looked equally vexed when Havertz headed woefully wide from another good opportunity.

Croatian champions Dinamo, managed by former Italy World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, barely got out of their own half for long periods.

Odegaard and Raheem Sterling combined to set up Martinelli but the Brazilian’s 20-yard drive was too close to Dinamo keeper Ivan Nevistic.

With Arsenal struggling to deliver the knockout blow, Ethan Nwaneri replaced Sterling as the teenage forward returned from a four-game injury absence.

Havertz finally put the result beyond doubt in the 66th minute, rising to meet Martinelli’s pin-point cross with a glancing header from 12 yards.

After Havertz’s wife was sent death threats following his penalty shoot-out miss against Manchester United, the striker is beginning to work his way back into favour among Arsenal fans.

The much-maligned German’s second goal in his last two games took him to 14 in all competitions this season.

Odegaard wrapped up the comfortable victory in stoppage-time with a cool finish from Leandro Trossard’s cross.