{"id":423936,"date":"2024-11-28T19:04:29","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T19:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=423936"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Perfect-Liverpool-on-top-of-Champions-League-Dortmund-also-among-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Perfect-Liverpool-on-top-of-Champions-League-Dortmund-also-among-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Liverpool on top of Champions League, Dortmund also among winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool are the only team with a perfect record in this season’s Champions League after beating title-holders Real Madrid 2-0 in their heavyweight clash on Wednesday, with last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund among the night’s other winners.<\/p>\n

The showdown at Anfield saw Real attempting to extend a run of eight games unbeaten against Liverpool.<\/p>\n

However, Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders were too strong, with Alexis MacAllister putting them ahead early in the second half.<\/p>\n

Kylian Mbappe endured a frustrating night and squandered a chance to equalise for Madrid after an hour when his penalty was saved.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Salah then missed from the spot at the other end but substitute Cody Gakpo headed in Liverpool’s second goal on 76 minutes.<\/p>\n

They are the sole side with five wins from five in this new-look Champions League, and are now guaranteed to advance at least to the knockout phase play-offs in February.<\/p>\n

“You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times, are the reigning champions and were a pain in the ass for Liverpool many times as well,” said Slot.<\/p>\n

Real have lost three of their five matches and with six points they are currently 24th, the very last qualifying spot for the knockout phase.<\/p>\n

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had words of comfort for their star French striker, saying: “This is a difficult moment for Mbappe. We will support him and give him love.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inter Milan sit second on 13 points, followed by Barcelona and Dortmund each on 12, with the Germans winning 3-0 against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.<\/p>\n

A great goal by English youngster Jamie Gittens gave Dortmund a first-half lead, before Ramy Bensebaini headed in on 56 minutes and substitute Serhou Guirassy sealed the win late on.<\/p>\n

– Villa, Juventus draw –<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Aston Villa started with three straight victories in the Champions League but were six matches without a win in all competitions before hosting Juventus.<\/p>\n

The game ended 0-0, with the English side denied in stoppage time when a Morgan Rogers goal was disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.<\/p>\n

Villa are just outside the top eight places offering direct access to the last 16, as one of seven teams on 10 points with three fixtures remaining.<\/p>\n

Monaco missed the chance to cement their top-eight spot as they went down 3-2 at home to Benfica in a dramatic game.<\/p>\n

Eliesse Ben Seghir gave Monaco an early lead but the visitors were level just after the break as Vangelis Pavlidis profited from a defensive error to score.<\/p>\n

Monaco were reduced to 10 men when defender Wilfried Singo was sent off for a second yellow, but they still retook the lead as Soungoutou Magassa fired in.<\/p>\n

However, Benfica’s numerical superiority made the difference late on as Arthur Cabral headed in on 84 minutes and Zeki Amdouni snatched the winner.<\/p>\n

Lille closed in on securing at least a play-off spot as they won 2-1 in Italy against Bologna, who remain winless.<\/p>\n

Belgian-born midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau was the French side’s hero with a brace, including the opener before half-time.<\/p>\n

Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi equalised for Bologna, but Mukau struck again on 66 minutes to secure Lille’s third win in five matches.<\/p>\n

– PSV comeback –<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Celtic and Club Brugge remain on course for the play-offs after drawing 1-1 in Glasgow, Daizen Maeda’s superb strike earning the Scottish champions a point after they had fallen behind to a farcical Cameron Carter-Vickers own goal.<\/p>\n

The comeback of the night came from PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch champions recovering from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Shakhtar Donetsk.<\/p>\n

Goals by Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov had the Ukrainians 2-0 ahead at half-time at the Philips Stadion.<\/p>\n

However, they had Brazilian full-back Pedro Henrique sent off on 69 minutes and fell apart late on.<\/p>\n

Malik Tillman’s free-kick was carried over the line by the goalkeeper on 87 minutes and the same player equalised with a superb long-range strike in the 90th minute.<\/p>\n

Tillman’s fellow American Ricardo Pepi then got the winner in the fifth added minute.<\/p>\n

Red Star Belgrade got their first points by coming from behind to hammer Stuttgart 5-1 in Serbia.<\/p>\n

Ermedin Demirovic gave the Germans an early lead, but Silas Katompa Mvumpa, on loan from Stuttgart, equalised before goals by Rade Krunic and Mirko Ivanic, and a Nemanja Radonjic brace.<\/p>\n

Austrian champions Sturm Graz are also off the mark after beating Girona 1-0 with a Mika Biereth goal.<\/p>\n

as\/mw<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring Liverpool’s second goal in their win over Real Madrid<\/p>\n

-Oli SCARFF
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Kylian Mbappe had a penalty saved in Real Madrid’s Champions League loss at Anfield<\/p>\n

-Oli SCARFF
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Aston Villa and Juventus drew 0-0 at Villa Park<\/p>\n

-Darren Staples
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

PSV Eindhoven produced a stunning late comeback to win 3-2 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Netherlands<\/p>\n

-John THYS
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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