Onana the savior of Manchester, tasteless Benfica… the Tops/Flops of the evening

The third day of the Champions League group stage saw André Onana save Manchester United at the very last second and Benfica disappoint once again.

TOPS

André Onana the savior

Old Trafford can (greatly) thank its Cameroonian goalkeeper. After the tribute paid to Mancunian legend Sir Bobby Charlton before the start of the match, Manchester United could not achieve a poor performance this Tuesday evening. It was done thanks to Onana, who saved Manchester United at the last second of the match against Copenhagen (1-0). In the 94th minute of play, Manchester had been leading for twenty minutes of play, following a header from Harry Maguire. But on the last corner of the match, Scott McTominay was guilty of a big foul in his penalty area. The referee whistled a penalty for the Danish team under the desperate gaze of Red Devils supporters. Jordan Larsson tried to convert the penalty but found the firm hand of the vice-European champion goalkeeper who delivered Manchester United. In great difficulty since his arrival this summer from Inter Milan, Onana gave his team a first victory in the Champions League this season.

The unstoppable Vinicius

Real Madrid won painfully in Braga this Tuesday evening (1-2) and can thank their Brazilian prodigy, the great architect of Madrid’s success. A quarter of an hour into the game, the Real star went deep. The Merengues’ No.7 played against the Braga defender before crossing perfectly for his teammate and compatriot Rodrygo who opened the scoring for the White House with the help of the post. Vinicius is also the decisive passer on Real’s second goal signed (obviously) Jude Bellingham. the Brazilian could also have scored a double in this meeting but the two goals of “come» were disallowed for offside positions. In short, a new recital from Madrilenian.

Vinicius was once unstoppable tonight. MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP

The divine purpose of Jesus

Gabriel Jesus allowed Arsenal to win in Seville this Tuesday evening by scoring his third goal of the competition, undoubtedly the best achievement of the evening. First a decisive passer on a brilliant inspiration for Martinelli’s opener just before half-time, the Brazilian striker splashed this meeting with his talent a few minutes later. In the 53rd minute of play, on the left side, the former Manchester City player hooked his way back inside the area before sending a sumptuous curling shot with his right foot into the Sevillian top corner. A wonder.

FLOPS

Benfica and Union Berlin at a standstill

Facing a sad Napoli, Union Berlin signed their ninth defeat in a row (1-0), in all competitions. The Berliners seemed incapable of being dangerous and in a severe lack of confidence. It will take a significant victory for the Union players to escape this endless negative spiral. As for what happens next in the Champions League, the German team will surely be able to put it aside. Urs Fischer’s players are in last place in their group with zero points.

On the Lisbon side, the sky is no less gray. The Lisbon side lost for the third time in three Champions League matches this season, against Real Sociedad (0-1). The Portuguese team has not scored a single goal and is also in last place in its group. It will take a miracle to see last season’s quarter-finalists qualify for the eighth.

Napoli still so sad

Despite their victory against Union Berlin this Tuesday evening (0-1), the Neapolitans offered almost nothing. The Italian champions had a hard time being dangerous. The only interesting Neapolitan offensives of the evening were signed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, most of the time on personal exploits of the Georgian. Naples was also deprived of its scorer Victor Osimhen, symbol of this Napoli where everything works in reverse. One wonders how Rudi Garcia was able to make this formation, which offered exceptional play last year, so depressing to watch evolve since the start of the season.