Moumi Ngamaleu canceled out Cristiano Ronaldo's opener before Jordan Pefok scored a late winner in Bern; Robert Lewandowski scored a brace at Camp Nou.
Follow Us
Swiss champions Young Boys came from behind to beat Manchester United 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The match saw Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off. United went ahead in the Champions League Group F opener thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal for the Red Devils. Ronaldo has been in top form since rejoining them from Juventus this summer. But Young Boys equalized mid-way through the second half thanks to Moumi Ngamaleu’s goal. Jordan Pefok scored a late winner. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 3-0 as Robert Lewandowski scored a second-half brace.
At Stade de Suisse, within 13 minutes of kickoff, two Portuguese internationals combined to give the lead to United. Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant pass with the outside of his right foot found Ronaldo at the far post. The Portuguese captain squeezed the ball in through the legs of goalkeeper Von Ballmoos to make the score 1-0.
At the other end, Christian Fassnacht tested David de Gea with his left-footed long ranger. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side immediately counter-attacked. Ronaldo’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was saved by Von Ballmoos at the near post.
Meanwhile, 10 minutes from the break, the complexion of the match changed. Wan-Bissaka was shown a direct red card for a clumsy tackle on Christopher Martins. The home side sensed an opportunity against the 10-man United and pressed forward with more intent. In the 66th minute, left-back Ulisses Garcia’s low cross was poked in by Ngamaleu to level the score.
Buoyed by the passionate home crowd, David Wagner’s side pushed hard for the winner but the away side defended well with 10-man for almost 55 minutes. Just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, substitute Jesse Lingard’s error paved the way for the home side’s winner. Lingard’s careless back pass left Pefok through on goal and the American made no mistake as he slotted the ball past De Gea.
It was a nightmare start for Manchester United in Group F, they will next face Villarreal at Old Trafford. The Yellow Submarine settled for a 2-2 draw against Atalanta.
At Camp Nou, Bayern Munich scored three goals without reply against a Messi-less Barcelona. The Catalan club was without Lionel Messi in the European competition for the first time since 2003.
Bayern dominated the Spanish club in every department. Ronald Koeman’s defensive formation of 5-3-2 proved to be inevitable as the away side was able to easily penetrate through Barca’s defence.
Thomas Mueller opened the scoring in the 34th minute. The German international’s shot from 30-yards out deflected off Eric Garca and beat a wrong-footed Ter Stegen to go inside the goal.
Four minutes from the hour-mark, Julian Nagelsmann’s side extended the lead through Lewandowski. Jamal Musiala’s shot rattled the post and the rebound fell to the Polish striker who poked the ball into an open goal.
Bayern continued to dominate and control the game and added a third in the 85th minute. Serge Gnabry’s initial shot hit the post but the rebound fell to Lewandowski who easily danced past Gerard Pique and then slotted the ball into the net.
It was a perfect Start for the German club in their Champion League Group E opener and they will next face Dynamo Kyiv in two weeks time.
Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv played out a goalless draw in Kyiv
