New Delhi: Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) came from behind to defeat Barcelona 2-1 at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Manchester City had to settle for a draw in Monaco despite Erling Haaland’s brace.
Arsenal and Newcastle United registered comfortable wins, while Napoli and Borussia Dortmund also claimed victories on the second matchday of the league phase.
Barcelona 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Gonçalo Ramos scored a last-minute winner as PSG snatched a dramatic victory against the Spanish champions, Barcelona. The Champions League holders fell behind when Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a cross from Marcus Rashford, but Senny Mayulu got them back on level in the 38th minute of the match.
Barçelona were twice denied on the line by Illia Zabarnyi and Achraf Hakimi. Substitute Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in the 90th minute, converting Achraf Hakimi’s low cross to secure three points for PSG.
AS Monaco 2-2 Manchester City
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland marked his 50th Champions League appearance with two goals, but Eric Dier’s 90th-minute penalty ensured that AS Monaco got at least a point from the match. The striker put City in front in the 15th minute of the game, his 51st goal in the competition, but Jordan Teze scored the equaliser in the 18th minute.
Haaland pounced again before the break, a leaping header putting his club back in front. Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders hit the crossbar in the second half, but despite good efforts, Man City were denied the victory at the last by Dier’s penalty.
Napoli 2-1 Sporting CP
Rasmus Højlund scored twice as Napoli secured their first league phase points in a close game in Naples. Kevin De Bruyne surged from well inside his own half to assist the on-loan Manchester United striker for the opening goal of the match in the 36th minute, but Sporting CP levelled through half-time substitute Luis Suárez’s penalty in the 62nd minute.
Højlund nodded in De Bruyne’s cross in the 79th minute to decide the encounter, though the Italian club needed Vanja Milinković-Savić’s superb added-time save from Morten Hjulmand’s header to preserve their victory.
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Gabriel Martinelli netted in consecutive Champions League matches for the first time to help Arsenal beat stubborn Olympiacos.
The Brazilian forward scored the first goal of the game in the 12th minute with a tap-in after a Viktor Gyokeres shot had come back off the post. Goalkeeper David Raya denied Daniel Podence with a brilliant save.
Konstantinos Tzolakis also denied Leandro Trossard as the hosts pushed for a second goal before Bukayo Saka eventually squeezed in a winner in the stoppage time to secure all three points for the Gunners.
Union Saint-Gilloise 0-4 Newcastle United
Anthony Gordon converted two penalties to help the Magpies register their biggest-ever win in the Champions League proper. Summer signing Nick Woltemade gave Eddie Howe’s side a lead in the 17th minute when he diverted Sandro Tonali’s low shot past a wrong-footed Kjell Scherpen.
Gordon struck twice from the spot, either side of the half-time and substitute Harvey Barnes scored the fourth goal in the 80th minute.
In other games, Villarreal played a 2-2 draw against Juventus at home, Qarabag FK beat Copenhagen 2-0. Bayer Leverkusen were held by PSV at home, and Borussia Dortmund thrashed Athletic Club 4-1