Champions League

DAVID RAYA pulled off a truly miraculous double save to prevent Arsenal from falling behind to Atalanta.The goalkeeper first saved a penalty down to his right to deny Mateo Retegui.David Raya pulled off an incredible double saveFirst the goalkeeper dived to his right to stop Mateo Retegui’s penaltyCredit: RexThen he got back up to claw out the reboundCredit: RexRaya discussed tactics with a coach before the spot-kick was takenCredit: GettyThe ball then popped back up perfectly for the striker to tap in with his head.But Raya had other ideas and reacted brilliantly to scramble across and claw away the ball just centimetres from the goal line.The double save left the commentators gobsmacked with Robbie Savage describing it as “one of the best saves I’ve ever seen”.Mikel Arteta was also left in awe by the stop, saying: “It was probably the best save in my career, both the penalty and the second action from David.”Raya had a helping hand with his effort as he went over to the touchline to discuss tactics with Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Pena before the spot-kick was taken.The Arsenal No1 had time to consult his coach, who was celebrating his 49th birthday, as the referee waited for a VAR check to be completed.Raya said of that chat and his save: “I was lucky to go to the right way and save it.”I was unlucky to get the rebound straight to him but I was just quick enough to get up and save the rebound.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSArsenal ratings vs Atalanta as Raya saves uninspiring Gunners in ItalyARSENAL had some David Raya heroics to thank for a points in the Champions League opener.Raya’s stunning double save just after the break spared Thomas Partey’s blushes after the midfielder gave away a penalty.And that was the closest either side came to a goal in the 0-0 draw.Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones rated Mikel Arteta’s men…David Raya – 9Produced a simply stunning double save to stop Mateo Retegui’s penalty and then flung himself across to push away the follow-up rebound header – even better than his effort to deny Ollie Watkins.Robbie Savage labelled it the “best save I’ve ever seen” while Gunners fans lauded their Spanish hero, who has conceded just once in five games so far this term.Ben White – 7Given the daunting task of trying to keep Ademola Lookman quiet inside a rocking Gewiss Stadium but completed the job with his classic relaxed, languid demeanour.William Saliba – 8One of the world’s top centre-backs but did not need to be anywhere near his best – solid enough when called upon, including excellent late sliding tackle in own box.Retegui showed great movement but Saliba will have far sterner tests this season, none more so than up against Erling Haaland on Sunday.Gabriel Magalhaes – 7Like his partner Saliba, Gabriel helped ensure the Arsenal defence came out on top.Starting to run out of words to say about this pair who just concede so few chances.Jurrien Timber – 7Adds an extra dimension to this Arsenal side – showing just how much he was missed when sidelined last season.Arguably had the easiest evening’s work of the four defenders.Thomas Partey – 4Martin Keown described the Gunners’ retraction en masse during the transition as Arteta putting up his own “Thames Barrier”.But Partey nearly allowed the floodgates to open by giving away the penalty three minutes into the second half – only to be rescued by Raya’s heroics.Declan Rice – 6Top awareness to sniff out the Atalanta danger and help control midfield.But squandered a great chance to drive Arsenal forward when he won the ball on the halfway line and could have launched a potent counter.Kai Havertz – 6With Jesus starting up front, Havertz dropped into a deeper role – but he is perfectly comfortable there, too, and can carry the ball forwards.Little to show for his evening, though, but continued to put a shift in defensively until the final whistle.Buakyo Saka – 6Drew the foul from Ederson who collected an early yellow and from the resulting free-kick almost squeezed a low effort into bottom corner but for top save.Given a breather for final 20 minutes with an eye on Sunday.Gabriel Jesus – 5Captain on the night was his typical busy self early on getting himself around but virtually all of his involvement was outside the Atalanta penalty area.Withdrawn before the hour mark.Gabriel Martinelli – 4Struggled to get in the game and then when he did get in, squandered a really good chance when he blazed over.Definitely not hitting top form so far this season and may well find himself among the subs against Manchester City.”It’s fantastic to be able to keep a clean sheet and help the team to at least get a point.”I took the decision to go to the sideline because it took a long time to decide if it was a pen.Ex-Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas charged with importing drugs after £600,000 worth of cannabis seized at airport”I went to speak with the goalie coach to work out which way to go and what to do. He helped me a lot in every aspect so credit to him as well that he does all the work with everything, so credit to him with the save.”Atalanta were awarded a penalty as referee Clement Turpin judged Thomas Partey had fouled Ederson.It was probably the best save in my career, both the penalty and the second action from David.Mikel ArtetaA VAR review confirmed the Gunners midfielder clipped the Brazilian and a penalty was awarded despite a foul first taking place outside the box before continuing into the penalty area.But Raya came to the rescue to keep the score goalless and protect his clean sheet.And his save ended up being crucial as Arsenal held onto a 0-0 draw to open their Champions League campaign.The keeper has been in terrific form this season, conceding just one goal in four games. More

VICTOR BONIFACE turned on the style during Bayer Leverkusen’s crushing win over Feyenoord.The Nigerian star pulled off an outrageous double nutmeg and no-look pass in the build-up to Leverkusen’s second goal.Leverkusen star Victor Boniface nutmegged two Feyenoord players in successionCredit: ReutersThe Nigerian then showed off a stunning no-look pass to set up the German’s second goalCredit: TNT SportsBoniface stunned fans by executing a playground move made famous by French legend Thierry Henry.The 23-year-old received the ball to feet 30 yards from the Feyenoord goal with Leverkusen already leading 1-0. He trapped the pass with his instep before nutmegging both defenders who tried to prevent the break. Boniface shaped to shoot with his right foot, but instead passed the ball out to the wing with his left in a short, sharp motion. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLA signature trick of Henry’s, the audacious move was perfectly executed perfectly by the Nigerian striker. Jeremie Frimpong received the pass from Boniface before slinging an inch-perfect cross to the far post. Alejandro Grimaldo was on hand to smash home to complete a stunning goal from the German champions.One fan gasped on X: “If he did that in training, people would be going mad!”Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnother said: “Victor Boniface has just executed the Thierry Henry fake-shot pass to perfection. Outrageous.”While a third added with a stunned emoji: “Stop it Boniface!!!! The Thierry Henry pass!!”As Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen seal Bundesliga title and leave Harry Kane on brink of trophyless seasonAnd a fourth simply gawped: “Boniface can ball.”Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen were in stunning form as they toyed with Feyenoord at De Kuip.They led 4-0 at half time, with Florian Wirtz bagging a brace and Feyenoord stopper Timon Wellenreuther putting through his own goal. The Dutch side tightened up in the second period, with Leverkusen happy to see out the game.New Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season.Leverkusen will now head back to Germany to play AC Milan in Gameweek 2.Feyenoord travel next to Spain to take on Girona, the La Liga surprise package playing in their first-ever Champions League campaign. More

BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S new heir to Jude Bellingham has revealed why he has changed his name.The young star created headlines by scoring twice in Dortmund’s opening Champions League win over Club Brugge.The English striker changed his name in the summerCredit: ReutersHe has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season and some have tipped the Englishman to follow in the footsteps of Bellingham and Jadon Sancho.Jamie Gittens is the name on fan’s lips but the striker used to go by a different name, and he explained the change.The 20-year-old was formerly known by Bynoe-Gittens, and used to wear that name on the back of his shirt.But the youngster cut his name in half at the behest of his father.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLGittens told Dortmund’s official website: “Both are my father’s names, but he said he thinks it’s better if I’m just called Gittens because it’s shorter.”Most people know him as Gittens, so in the future, I’ll only wear Gittens.”The “shorter the better” he told German outlet Bild.Gittens has announced himself on the European stage but took a little longer than Bellingham to make an impression at Dortmund.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe scored his first Champions League goal last season but ended the season with just two goals in 34 games.However new boss Nuri Sahin appears to have got the best out of him as Gittens also scored twice Eintracht Frankfurt off the bench.The new Champions League format explained More

FILIP PANAK captained Sparta Prague to their first Champions League victory in 21 years last night after battling back from a life-threatening illness.The defender, 28, has suffered with several injuries since joining Sparta in 2019.Filip Panak was in action against Salzburg last nightCredit: GettyPanak, 28, helped his side to a famous victoryCredit: AFPIn this period he has missed more than 800 days of football due to persistent knee issues.And in addition to battling to resume his career, Panak even found himself fighting for his life following one operation.As per Czech outlet TN, he said of that period: “In the first stage after the first operation I had inflammation in my knee and my kidneys failed.”I spent two weeks in the ARU and another two weeks in orthopaedics cleaning it up after the operation.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”At that point it wasn’t about football or sports, it was about for my life.”I went on dialysis, my liver was also dying. At that moment, it was about how to save my life.”With the help of his friends and family, as well as doctors, Panak was able to recover from the lowest situation of his career.He also had words of encouragement from a former Arsenal star.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWho are these famous footballers?Tomas Rosicky knows all about injury setbacks, having suffered with several during his decade at the Emirates.As sporting director at Sparta, Rosicky was able to support Panak.Thomas Rosicky announces retirement… last of the 2002 Nike Cage greats “He told me not to succumb to it, to try to think positively,” Panak said of those conversations with Rosicky.”I told him that every time I come home, I’m in a bad mood, that my life outside of football depends greatly on my knee pain.”And he confirmed that he knows exactly what I’m talking about, that he’s experienced it too.”Having largely put the worst of those injury issues behind him, Panak has been able to play for much of the last two years.And following Ladislav Krejci’s departure for Girona in the summer, he was even appointed Sparta’s club captain.Last night, he proudly led his side out as they took on Salzburg in the Czech capital.And it was to be a special night, with goals by Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci securing Sparta’s first Champions League victory, discounting qualifying rounds, since 2003.For his solid performance, Panak even earned the man of the match award.Last night’s game also marked the first time Sparta have ever begun their Champions League campaign with a win.Having broken their duck, the Czech side will hope to make more history in this year’s competition.READ MORE SUN STORIESNext time out they will travel to Germany to face Stuttgart.Then on matchday three, Panak is set to lead his side out against 2023 European champions Manchester City.Panak earned the man of the match award More