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Red Star stun Reds, as Napoli and PSG draw in Naples - Soccer Times

Red Star stun Reds, as Napoli and PSG draw in Naples

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The first round of gameweek four in the Champions League produced some vital wins and results in the context of the race for qualification for the knockout stages. Here is what happened on another breathtaking night of Champions League action:

Red Star stun Liverpool in Belgrade

Liverpool headed into their away game at Red Star Belgrade in confident mood, only to suffer a 2-0 defeat in the Serbian capital.

The home started well, but it was Liverpool who had the first real chance of the game, as striker Daniel Sturridge missed a chance from close-range on 17 minutes.

However, the home side punished the visitors five minutes later, as Milan Pavlov rose beautifully to head home his first ever European goal for the Serbian giants. Pavlov doubled his goal tally seven minutes later, holding off the attention of Georginio Wijnaldum before hitting a powerful effort from 25 yards past Alisson, who should have done better with the effort.

Liverpool attempted to get back in the game as Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah both hit the woodwork, but there was no way back for Jurgen Klopp’s team who suffered their third successive away defeat in Europe.

The result means that the group is wide open when it comes to qualification for the knockout stages. Liverpool are now second, behind Italian side Napoli on the head-to-head, but a point ahead of PSG.

Red Star are fourth in the group, but just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s team, who are still favourites to qualify for the knockout stages.

Napoli and PSG finish all square in Naples

The other game in Group C saw Napoli and PSG play out a 1-1 draw in Naples, which did neither side’s chances of making it out of the group much good.

The visitors took the lead in first-half stoppage-time after Kylian Mbappe found full-back Juan Bernat, who finished from close-range. The home side produced a far more lively display in the second period and just after the hour mark scored the equaliser. Thiago Silva brought Spanish winger Jose Callejon down in the area and Lorenzo Insigne made no mistake with the spot-kick.

The draw leaves both sides in with a chance of still qualifying. However, both teams will be disappointed that they failed to capitalise on Liverpool’s slip-up in Belgrade.

Barcelona qualify after a draw in Milan

Internazionale held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro in Group B, but results elsewhere mean that the Catalan giants booked their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

The visitors took the lead with just seven minutes left on the clock. Substitute Malcom picked up the ball from compatriot Philippe Coutinho before beating Samir Handanovic with a low effort. The goal was Malcom’s first for the visitors.

However, Inter fought back and four minutes later equalised, as captain Marco Icardi pounced on some poor defensive play from the visitors to score a potentially vital goal for the Nerazzurri.

The draw means that Barcelona only needs to win at PSV in their next European match to win the group. Inter remain second in the group three points ahead of third place Tottenham, who will still have hopes of making it to the knockout stages.

Tuesday’s other Champions League results

Monaco 0-4 Club Brugge

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Dortmund

Tottenham 2-1 PSV Eindhoven

Schalke 2-0 Galatasaray

FC Porto 4-1 Lokomotiv Moscow

Will Liverpool still qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League?

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