We’re halfway through the final round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United’s European race has now begun, Napoli and Copenhagen have booked their places in the knockout stages, and Benfica have booked a place in the Europa League in dramatic fashion. There wasn’t much to play for on Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean the matches didn’t include a few moments including a memorable goal from Angel Di Maria. Let’s take a look at some points from match day so far:
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Tuesday’s results
- Lens 2, Seville 1
- PSV Eindhoven 1, Arsenal 1
- Union Berlin 2 Real Madrid 3
- Salzburg 1 Benfica 3
- Napoli 2 Braga 0
- Inter 0 Real Sociedad 0
- Copenhagen 1, Galatasaray 0
- Manchester United 0 Bayern Munich 1
Erik ten Hag is probably safe but it’s time for a change
Once again, Manchester United find themselves contemplating what comes after a Champions League defeat, although this time there is no hope in European football, having finished last in Group A. It is disappointing to be grouped with Copenhagen, Bayern Munich and Galatasaray of Turkey. Not even third place, but that is the current situation at Old Trafford. While Harry Maguire was regaining his place in the United ranks, he left the match due to injury, followed by Luke Shaw, and Bayern scored the decisive goal, ending United’s misery.
Now, they face the daunting task of making a comeback against Premier League leaders Liverpool over the weekend. That’s no small challenge for a club struggling with an identity crisis, injury fears and uncertainty over ownership changes ahead of the transfer window. There’s a lot to address in Manchester, and the list of laundry-related issues extends far beyond a dozen hags. The club is in the unenviable position of needing wins to attract players of the quality needed to compete in the Premier League while at the same time lacking the strength to overcome the top teams in the league.
How this limbo is managed will determine how quickly United can climb out of this hole, yet the right course of action is difficult to determine. In some cases, giving more minutes to young players makes sense, but it also complicates the task of selling players who have no future at Old Trafford. One thing is clear: United need to choose a direction and stick with it because the current state of limbo is doing no one any good.
Our James Bing has it More about the European disaster here.
Make the Europa League in style
Benfica’s Champions League campaign has been a season to forget, but when it mattered most, they managed to turn things around and prolong their European journey. In Austria, facing Red Bull Salzburg and needing to win by at least two goals, Benfica did just that in the first half. But one of the goals came from an unexpected source. During the corner kick, Angel Di Maria showed off his footballing skills, as he executed Olimpico’s pass from the corner flag. However, this was not the only memorable moment of the match.
Despite the narrow margin, Benfica almost squandered their lead, allowing Salzburg to score after the ball changed direction. However, in stoppage time, Arthur Cabral, who came on as a substitute in the 91st minute, came through on goal. He found the back of the net in the 92nd minute to secure a place in the Europa League in dramatic fashion.
While Benfica’s Champions League campaign ended with a tinge of disappointment, they now have a chance to turn it into a positive in the Europa League.
Union Berlin qualifies for the European League
Facing tough opponents in Real Madrid, Union Berlin were not the favorites to win, but they had enough chances to do so. The first half witnessed Real Madrid dominating until chaos erupted after Luka Modric missed a penalty kick. Union Berlin took advantage, going coast to coast, with Kevin Volland finishing off the opportunity after David Alaba cleared the ball into the striker’s path.
Real Madrid came back in the second half with two goals from Joselu, but that was not enough to stop the struggling German team. Alex Kral scored almost immediately after being substituted in the match. At that point, Union Berlin needed another goal to dream of turning their difficult Champions League campaign into a Europa League qualification position. Unfortunately for them, no one finishes like Real Madrid. Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos combined to score the winner in the 90th minute, abruptly ending Union Berlin’s European adventure on and off.
The latest round of Champions League fixtures has delivered some unexpected results, with Manchester United reaching the bottom of their group after a disappointing defeat. However, there were also some surprising success stories, such as Copenhagen’s qualification for the knockout stages and Benfica finally emerging as a strong contender in their group. The competition continues to provide thrilling moments and unpredictable outcomes, keeping football fans on the edge of their seats.