The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage is in full swing! We take stock of the big matches of the fourth day, to follow this Wednesday.
Wednesday October 12
Naples – Ajax (18h45)
The 6-1 win in Amsterdam the first leg is the biggest European away win in history for Napoli, who also equaled their biggest margin of victory in UEFA competition, either home or away. “Divine” was the one-word headline of local newspaper Il Mattino the following morning, but Napoli are expecting a response in Italy, with their Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saying: “ [l’Ajax] is a good team and has very good players. They need to pick themselves up. Ajax, meanwhile, are hoping to prove NOS.nl wrong, with the site writing, “This Ajax team has no place in the Champions League. “Following this heavy setback…
Did you know ?
With this victory in Amsterdam, Naples remains on 11 matches without defeats in all competitions since the start of the season (9 v. D2).
Atletico – Club de Bruges (18h45)
Many pundits thought Club Brugge’s fine run in Group B would end against Atlético in the first leg, but Carl Hoefkens’ side realized another outstanding performance, prompting the local newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws to write: “Club Brugge is the best ambassador that Belgian football can hope for. Atlético hit the bar in that 2-0 loss and find themselves bottom of the group as the second leg looms, but Diego Simeone is not one to concede defeat, saying: “We don’t throw not the sponge. We have three games left to sort things out. »
Did you know ?
Club Brugge have not won any of their four matches played in Madrid (three defeats against Atlético and one draw against Real Madrid), despite scoring seven goals in the Spanish capital.
Barcelone – Inter (21 hours)
With three small points on the clock after three match days, Barcelona are not in an ideal situation, conceded their coach Xavi Hernández: “We should have delivered a better performance [lors de la défaite 1-0 à l’Inter]. This defeat leaves us in a very difficult position. Simone Inzaghi’s Inter shrugged off disappointing performances to win despite the absences of Marcelo Brozović and Romelu Lukaku. But Xavi warned the Lombards not to expect a cakewalk at Camp Nou: “In the Champions League we have three finals left, and that’s how we will treat them. »
Did you know ?
Barcelona have won all five of their home games in UEFA competition against Inter, but the Nerazzurri won 2-1 at Camp Nou in a 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup match (the unaffiliated predecessor to the Inter). UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League).
Sporting CP – Marseille (21 hours)
After opening the scoring in the first minute in the first leg in Provence, Sporting’s evening quickly went off the rails, with the equalizer full of aggressiveness from Alexis Sánchez launching Marseille towards a 4-1 win. “We’re going to get our revenge,” said Portugal coach Rúben Amorim, whose side still lead Group D with six points. As for OM, picking up their first points of the campaign gave midfielder Amine Harit optimism: “We are expecting a very difficult game in Lisbon,” he said. “We hope to continue our momentum. »
Did you know ?
Sporting had not conceded a goal in three Champions League games before Alexis Sánchez equalised. OM, meanwhile, have not kept a clean sheet in 18 C1 matches.
But also…