Champions League roundup 12/10/22: Napoli, Liverpool enjoy big wins; Porto improve chances

Matchday four of the Champions League has concluded, with three more clubs officially securing their places in the competition’s next round.

On Wednesday night, there was drama all over Europe, with some significant victories, a few comebacks, and a late equaliser.

Barcelona are hanging on by a thread, but Napoli, Bayern Munich, and Club Brugge have already advanced to the round of 16, and Liverpool are almost there.

Here is how everything happened.

Group A

Napoli 4-2 Ajax

Napoli’s fourth straight victory has advanced them to the round of 16 of the competition. The prolific Serie A team, which has already scored 17 goals in four games, hit Ajax for four more after scoring six goals against them last week in Amsterdam.

Rangers 1-7 Liverpool

Roberto Firmino was the standout performer for Jurgen Klopp’s team despite Liverpool’s sluggish start against Rangers at a boisterous Ibrox on what threatened to be a difficult night.

Before assisting Darwin Nunez with a goal, the Brazilian scored two goals of his own to completely change the course of the game. By that point, Liverpool was clearly superior, but Mohamed Salah persisted in joining the celebration, scoring the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history in just over six minutes.

Group B

Atletico Madrid 0-0 Club Brugge

Club Brugge only needed a point at the Wanda Metropolitano to advance to the knockout rounds with two games remaining.

In comparison to Brugge, Atletico had more possession and nine shots that were on goal. However, even after Kamel Sowah, a visitor, was dismissed in the final 10 minutes, there was no escape.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-3 Porto

After beginning the group stage with consecutive losses to Atletico and Brugge, Porto improved their chances of joining Brugge in the next round by defeating Bayer Leverkusen twice in a row.

Surprisingly, Leverkusen had more possession of the ball and shot attempts. However, Porto simply had better execution, scoring early on through Wenderson Galeno and then successfully converting numerous second-half penalties. Leverkusen had a bad night because they missed a penalty of their own and had a goal disallowed by VAR.

Group C

Barcelona 3-3 Inter

Prior to Robert Lewandowski’s equaliser in stoppage time, Barcelona was facing elimination from the Champions League group stage for the second consecutive season. It will be difficult to advance to the first knockout round, even with a point against Inter.

In this match, Ousmane Dembele actually scored first before Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez gave Inter the lead. Lewandowski scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute, but a chaotic finish saw Robin Gosens give Inter the lead once more, and the talented Pole came to the rescue once more.

Viktoria Plzen 2-4 Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich defeated Viktoria Plzen with no such issues, advancing them directly into the round of 16. Through goals from Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller, and Leon Goretzka—the latter scoring twice—the German champions quickly took a 4-0 lead into halftime in the Czech Republic.

In the second half, the foot may have naturally taken its foot off the gas pedal. Viktoria scored twice as a result, helping them claw some of the game back, but Bayern had already gained an excessive lead.

Group D

Tottenham 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Son Heung-min, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Harry Kane were outstanding against Eintracht Frankfurt in north London as Tottenham had to rally from a goal down.

For the visitors, Daichi Kamada scored first. Son then scored twice, either side of a Kane penalty, all within the first 36 minutes of the game. After Tuta was dismissed, Frankfurt played for 30 minutes with just 10 players, but they still managed to pull a goal back while Kane actually missed a stoppage time penalty.

Sporting CP 0-2 Marseille

Sporting lost consecutive games, both to Marseille, after getting off to a strong start in the Champions League group stage with two early victories. Marseille, on the other hand, lost their first two games before winning their last two.

Two goals from ex-Arsenal players in the first half decided this game. 20 minutes in, Matteo Guendouzi converted a penalty, and Alexis Sanchez quickly doubled the advantage. Sporting played for more than 70 minutes with just 10 players after Ricardo Esgaio received two early yellow cards.