NOS Football•
After a difficult first half, FC Barcelona won against Slavia Prague in the seventh and penultimate round of the Champions League. In the Czech capital, the home team kept pace with the Spanish guests in the first half, but after the break Barcelona made it 2-4.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool also returned to their own country with three points. Won on a visit to Olympique Marseille The Redswhere substitute Cody Gakpo scored the last goal in the 92nd minute, with the score 0-3.
Frenkie de Jong was one of the most important players on the pitch for Barcelona. He even seemed to score a Champions League goal for the first time in his career, when Robert Lewandowski served him perfectly and he easily tapped in.
However, Lewandowski had just been offside, resulting in De Jong’s goal being disallowed.
De Jong was involved in a valid goal by the Catalans with an assist. Fermín López made it 1-1 through him. Furthermore, he sprinkled clean passes throughout the evening and frequently turned away from his opponents to create opportunities.
However, he was not involved in the best goal of the evening. Dani Olmo, who came on in the 61st minute, shot a flawless ball into the crossbar just two minutes after his entrance.
Goal Gakpo helps Liverpool
Gakpo was the only Dutchman in Marseille who did not start at Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong all played the full match.
Gakpo was handed the ball at his goal on the left side of the penalty area and had plenty of time to take the ball and slide it into the far corner with his right foot.
The foundation for victory had already been laid. Just before half time, Dominik Szoboszlai saw with a free kick that Marseille did not use a wall layer, which he took advantage of. He shot expertly under the rising wall, sent the ball to the far corner and beat goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli (0-1).
Former Ajax player Rulli also scored an own goal by turning a cross from Frimpong into his own goal in the second half (0-2).
The win brings Liverpool to fifteen points. This puts the team in fourth place in the competition phase. Barcelona is in ninth place with thirteen points. The first eight go directly to the eighth finals, numbers 9 to 24 end up in an intermediate round.
