Antwerp 3:2 Barcelona
The headline for Barcelona could have been about their group stage championship win, but Antwerp’s unbelievable upset against Barca has stolen the spotlight. An unknown Belgian club’s victory is now the talk of the town. However, it wasn’t an easy win for Antwerp. The match was a rollercoaster ride. Antwerp took the lead within 2 minutes but lost it by Torres’ goal in the 35th minute. By the 56th minute, Antwerp managed to pull ahead again. They were consistently ahead but in the final minute of added time, Guiyu’s goal equalized for Barca. However, in the subsequent minutes, Antwerp scored, securing a 3-2 victory.
On the same night, Porto needed a win against Donetsk to proceed. If they had drawn, it would have been enough. However, Porto secured a magnificent 5-3 victory against Donetsk, sealing their fate in the last 16, much like Barcelona.
Barcelona’s inconsistent and young players have influenced their gameplay. Although they started strong against Antwerp, the relentless attack has put Barcelona in a precarious position. Despite being behind, Antwerp threatened and pressured Barcelona, resulting in a stunning finish. The Belgian club has gifted Barcelona a loss in the European arena.
Red Star Belgrade 2:3 Manchester City
Manchester City had already secured their place in the Champions League knockout stage. Their match against Red Star Belgrade was more about preserving their record. In this crucial match, many of City’s star players took a break, providing an opportunity for their academy players.
A 20-year-old, Judah Hamilton, put City ahead in the 19th minute. Oscar Bob, another young player, extended City’s lead to 2-0 with his first Champions League goal in the 62nd minute.
However, a goal by Young In-Beom narrowed the lead to 2-1 for Belgrade. Yet, in the 85th minute, a penalty goal widened City’s lead to 3-1 by Calvin Philips. Belgrade managed to score another goal but the match ended 3-2. With this win, City won all six matches in the group stage, following Liverpool’s second English club record in the 2021-22 season.
