Penalty drama dominates first matchday
Holders Liverpool began their defence of the Champions League trophy with a defeat against Napoli on Tuesday, while one missed spot-kick condemned Chelsea to defeat against Valencia and another came to Barcelona’s rescue.
Liverpool survived a 1-0 defeat in Naples in the group stage last season to go on and win their sixth European Cup, and this time a 2-0 reverse at the San Paolo made them the first reigning champions to lose their opening game in the competition since 1994.
Both sides had chances in the Group E clash before the hosts won a late penalty with barely 10 minutes remaining when Jose Callejon went down under an Andy Robertson challenge.
Dries Mertens beat Adrian from 12 yards and substitute Fernando Llorente -- who played for Tottenham Hotspur against Liverpool in last season’s final -- then took advantage of a rare defensive lapse by Virgil van Dijk to make it 2-0 in stoppage time.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty. What can I say, for me, it is clear and obvious no penalty,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said of the spot-kick to BT Sport. “What can I say, for me, it is clear and obvious, no penalty. He jumps before any contact, we can’t change that.”
Carlo Ancelotti insisted that there was no sense of “euphoria”.
“Euphoria at what? We won the first match, it was a good test and we come out of this match aware that this team can do well,” said Ancelotti. “It was just one victory, but yes it has given us confidence, being able to match Liverpool is impressive as for me they are the best team in Europe at the moment.
Liverpool must now bounce back in two weeks when they host Austrian champions Salzburg, who made a stunning return to the group stage as teenage forward Erling Braut Haaland netted a hat-trick in a 6-2 demolition of Genk. Haaland, whose father Alf-Inge played for Manchester City, gave Salzburg a second-minute lead and netted twice more before half-time.
Aged just 19 years and 58 days, Haaland is the third-youngest player to score a Champions League hattrick behind Wayne Rooney and Raul.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said his team had goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank after they escaped with a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
“The team overcame a bad moment today, mainly thanks to Ter Stegen,” said Valverde after watching his side survive a second-half onslaught from Dortmund.
In a game in which Lionel Messi made his return from injury, it was Ter Stegen who shone for Barcelona. The German ‘keeper saved a penalty from Dortmund captain Marco Reus and repeatedly frustrated the hosts as his own side struggled.
“It was a difficult game today and I think the result is fair considering what happened,” Ter Stegen told Sky, and commiserated with Germany teammate Reus. “Marco played really well today, and really hurt us.”
Dortmund and their captain, however, were left to rue several missed chances.
“We had four or five chances, and if we had taken one of them, we would have won,” he told Sky. “We said after the draw that we wanted to qualify for the knockout stages. If we continue to play like we did today then there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“We played brilliantly in the second half, and it feels a bit like we have lost two points,” Dortmund defender Mats Hummels told Sky
Last season’s Europa League winners Chelsea ensured it was two defeats out of two on the night for English sides as they lost 1-0 at home to Valencia.
“It’s a harsh lesson of Champions League football, a game we’ve played pretty well in and we lose it,” said Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. “The good thing is we have five more games to turn it around.”
Comments