Atletico held by Club Brugge, Liverpool thrash Rangers in UCL

Belgian aspect Club Brugge reached the Champions League knockouts after a 0-0 draw towards Atletico Madrid on Wednesday assured them a top-two spot in Group B.

After changing into the primary Belgian aspect to win their opening three group video games final week, Brugge reached the spherical of 16 in Europe’s elite membership competitors for the primary time since 1990-91, when it was generally known as the European Cup.

Atletico squandered a string of probabilities as they prolonged their winless streak in the competitors to a few video games.

The Spanish aspect are second on 4 factors, six behind the Belgians and one forward Porto and Bayer Leverkusen, who’ve a sport in hand and can play one another in a while Wednesday.

Atletico now will face two must-win video games towards Leverkusen and Porto to remain alive in the competitors.

Brugge had been vigorous in the primary half however ran out of steam after the break after which held on in the closing phases as Atletico tried in useless to open up the guests, who had Kamal Sowah sent-off late on.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was named participant of the match after he made a sequence of stops in the second half, together with two close-range saves in added time to disclaim Alvaro Morata.

“This is a dream! We fought until the end and we finally did it,” Mignolet informed UEFA’s web site.

“In previous years, it just didn’t work out for us. We felt this year would be different – and now qualification is ours.

“But our story doesn’t finish right here: let’s see how far we are able to go.”

Atletico manager Diego Simeone left star Portuguese forward Joao Felix on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.

The Argentinian manager instead opted to start Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa up-front, bringing Morata and Matheus Cunha on from the bench later on.

But Brugge attacked Simeone’s defensive block and constantly broke their lines with dangerous through balls and quick counters in the first half.

Sowah, Andreas Skov Olsen and Ferran Jutgla all missed chances to score early on.

Atletico were slowly building up momentum, with Griezmann missing several chances.

The hosts almost scored in the 20th minute after a one-touch passing combination between Griezmann and Correa, with the Argentinian’s low strike going narrowly wide.

The Frenchman was denied by Mignolet in the 26th minute, having a low shot blocked by the goalkeeper’s right foot.

Saul Niguez had a goal ruled out for offside in the build up a few minutes later.

With Atletico in control, Brugge were awarded a penalty but the decision was overturned by the VAR as Tajon Buchanan stepped on Nahuel Molina’s ankle before the Argentinian tripped him inside the area.

Atletico had another goal ruled out right after the break when Angel Correa was adjudged offside.

The hosts dominated possession late on and applied relentless pressure after Sowah was shown his second yellow card for kicking the ball into the stands after play had stopped.

Yet Mignolet made several saves to keep the game goalless and seal Brugge’s qualification.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the group’s sixth aim towards Rangers in the Champions League match in Glasgow
| Photo Credit: Action Images by way of Reuters

Salah rediscovers scoring contact

By his personal astronomically excessive requirements, this season has been disappointing for Mohamed Salah as he and Liverpool have struggled, however in one rampant displaying at Rangers on Tuesday each participant and membership rediscovered their spark.

Tipped to be Manchester City’s important Premier League title challengers once more this time period, Liverpool have suffered their worst begin to a home season in a decade, having amassed simply 10 factors from their opening eight fixtures.

Salah’s lack of targets has maybe been one of many causes for his or her stoop.

Two from eight begins will not be type you’ll often affiliate with a participant who averages 0.61 targets in the Premier League, however the Egyptian’s struggles have matched his group’s woes.

Form, nevertheless, is just short-term. Salah and Liverpool had been in dire want of a elevate with champions Manchester City subsequent up at Anfield on Sunday. The quickest hat-trick in Champions League historical past from substitute Salah in a 7-1 success was simply what the physician ordered.

“We usually drink a beer after away games, it’s that long since I drank we’ll probably be drunk after one,” a buoyant Juergen Klopp joked after the match.

“The relief is big. All the effort is paying off. We all know when it is running for Mo (Salah) he is exceptional, absolutely exceptional. Obviously it was a different position for him tonight, coming on.

“I hope for him all the things works for him any more, like I hope it does for us.”

With Salah left on the bench for the primary time this time period, Klopp went for a younger Liverpool lineup as he regarded to place his aspect on the verge of the final 16 towards Rangers, and neglect their home struggles.

It regarded just like the gamble had backfired as Liverpool conceded first for the eighth time this season in the primary half at a bouncing Ibrox, earlier than a double from Roberto Firmino turned the match on its head.

Even after close-season signing Darwin Nunez did his confidence a world of excellent with a nice end to make it 3-1, Liverpool didn’t look overly convincing, till Salah entered the fray.

The defending left a lot to be desired from Rangers, however the way in which Salah stroked the ball into the web, particularly for his treble-clinching third, was harking back to the Egyptian at his greatest.

It will take a particular efficiency for Liverpool to finish City’s unbeaten begin to the season on Sunday, however the probabilities of Salah making one other telling contribution in this blockbuster conflict look extra promising now.