Champions League

GOALS from Raheem Sterling and Denis Zakaria saw Graham Potter’s side finish the Champions League group stages with a flourish.Chelsea rallied after going a goal down early doors to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Denis Zakaria marked his first Chelsea appearance with a goalCredit: Reuters
Raheem Sterling scored his first goal after an eight game barren runCredit: Getty
It wasn’t Cesar Azpilicueta’s best night in a Chelsea shirtCredit: AP
On loan Juventus midfielder Zakaria was handed his debut in the dead rubber clash, with the Blues already confirmed as group winners.
And the Swiss international did not disappoint, even marking his first appearance with a goal.
England fans, as well as Chelsea supporters, will also have enjoyed watching a resurgent Raheem Sterling, who looked close to his best after a disappointing run of recent form.
But skipper Cesar Azpilicueta was not up to his usual standards, and was at fault for the Dinamo Zagreb opener.
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Here’s how SunSport’s Giacomo Pisa rated the Blues…
Edouard Mendy – 7
Couldn’t do anything about the Dinamo Zagreb opener, which came at him from point-blank range.
Down brilliantly to deny Josip Sutalo’s header from a corner with an expert low save in the opening minutes of the second half.
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Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
Was at fault for the Dinamo Zagreb goal – although he didn’t know too much about it.
A cross into the box came off the back of his head and looped across goal for Bruno Petkovic to nod home from close range.
Although the skipper would have been able to head clear if he wasn’t too busy grappling with Arijan Ademi.
Trevoh Chalobah – 7
Went quietly about his business yet again, to further strengthen his credentials for a surprise place in England’s World Cup squad.
Looked dangerous from set pieces too, getting his head to the ball first on three separate occasions from corners.
Couldn’t make anything of the chances, but made himself a nuisance in the Zagreb box.
Kalidou Koulibaly – 7
Booked for a clumsy challenge just before the break, but apart from that did well on his first appearance after three games out.
Always eager to fire passes between the lines into the feet of his attackers.
Taken off just after the hour mark with the weekend’s game against Arsenal in mind.
Ben Chilwell – 6
Not quick enough coming out to block the cross for the opener, and was ineffective going forward in the first half.
Better after the break when making more runs down the left, and nearly grabbed an assist with a peach of a cross that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was agonisingly close to connecting with.
Suffered an agonising injury in the dying moments putting his World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
Denis Zakaria – 8
Busy in midfield on his Chelsea debut and marked his first appearance with a goal.
In the right place at the right time when the ball fall to him on the edge of the box, seeing his effort over the line with the help of a deflection from Sadegh Moharrami.
The Juventus loanee was eager to win tackles in the middle of the park and also looked calm in possession despite the occasion.
Zakaria was composed in and out of possessionCredit: Getty
Jorginho – 7
Controlled the midfield well, and dictated the overall tempo of the game.
Most of went Chelsea did went through the Italian midfielder, who oozed a sense of calm throughout the game.
Mason Mount – 7
Put himself about as he always does, and always willing to take on a dangerous pass rather than choosing the safer option.
Didn’t quite click for him at times, but it nearly paid off when a dipping free-kick destined for the top corner was tipped over the bar by Dominik Livakovic.
Raheem Sterling – 8
Put his recent woes behind him with a smartly taken equaliser after going the last eight games without scoring.
Showed quick feet to evade two challenges and guide the ball into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot, but missed an absolute sitter from eight yards out just before the half hour mark.
Was a livewire throughout the game and looked confident after his goal, which will please Gareth Southgate ahead of the World Cup.
Sterling guides home the Chelsea equaliserCredit: Reuters
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7
Clever backheel into Sterling to set up Chelsea’s equaliser.
Spent most of the game out on the wing, but affected the play more when he drifted infield, suggesting his best position is up front.
Rattled the bar with a thunderous curling effort in the second half after a neat step over on the left, which was more than worthy of a goal.
Kai Havertz – 6
Whipped in a wicked cross for Sterling early on that the England man flashed over the bar, and put it on a plate for the same man 15 minutes later only for Sterling to flash over the bar.
Was quiet apart from that, and not as influential as forward partners Sterling and Aubameyang.
Taken off with just over 25 minutes to play.
Substitutes
Conor Gallagher (on for Havertz, 64 mins) – 5
Downgraded for missing from five yards out in stoppage time, somehow firing straight at Livakovic with the entire goal at his mercy.
Keen to pick up the ball and drive forward with it after being thrown on for the last 26 minutes.
Armando Broja (on for Aubameyang, 64 mins) – 6
Surprisingly wasn’t included in the starting line up.
Dangerous when he came on and could have had an assist 10 mins in but there was nobody to get on the end of his dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Thiago Silva (on for Koulibaly, 64 mins) – 6
Didn’t put a foot wrong when he came on for the Senegalese defender.
Although he did miss an absolute sitter late on that would have put the game to bed, misjudging a cross completely and getting his close range effort all wrong.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (on for Zakaria, 71 mins) – 6
Picked up where Zakaria left off when replacing the debutant.
But didn’t have long enough to really make an impact on the game in the final 19 minutes.
Christian Pulisic (on for Sterling, 83 mins) – N/A More

JULIAN ALVAREZ says he has learned a lot from playing alongside Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.And the Argentine international forward put it to good use with an expertly taken second half goal to put Manchester City in charge.
Man City right-back Rico Lewis can’t contain his joy at levelling on an amazing Champions League night for the 17-year-oldCredit: Reuters
Julian Alvarez puts Man City in front as they came from behind to winCredit: PA
Bury-born starlet Rico Lewis watches magic moment for Man City all the wayCredit: Reuters
Julian Alvarez hails his goal on a night when the Man City striker also made his mark with two assists against SevillaCredit: PA
The recent arrival from River Plate also teed up 17-year-old full-back Rico Lewis to become the second youngest English goalscorer in this competition.
Then he capped off an impressive night by playing in Riyad Mahrez to grab a late third.
Alvarez did more than anyone to ensure that Guardiola’s proud home record in the Champions League extended to 23 games.
Their last European defeat at the Etihad was way back in 2018 and the sequence puts them neck and neck with Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.  
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That had looked under threat when Rafa Mir headed Seville ahead in the first half but in the end they won at a canter.
And better still, Haaland had the night off to continue his recovery from a foot injury.
Having won their first three group matches, the next two were low key and the way this one started was no different.
Youngsters Cole Palmer and Lewis were both given a start and both tried their luck from distance early on but could not hit the target.
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Phil Foden was given a deeper midfield role so Kevin de Bruyne could have a rest.
And the England youngster whipped over a free-kick which Ruben Dias failed to connect cleanly with and bundled his effort wide.
City were given a warning when Mir climbed high to get on the end of a Marcos Acuna cross but steered his header just past the post.
Back at the other end, skipper Ilkay Gundogan played a one-two with Foden but fired his shot from a narrow angle into the side-netting.
Mir never scored in England during his spells with Wolves and Nottingham Forest but he broke his duck just after the half hour.
He outjumped full-back Sergio Gomez and looped a header into the far corner with Stefan Ortega rooted to the spot.
Guardiola took off Jack Grealish and replaced him with Rodri at half-time and City had a more solid look about them.
They were level within seven minutes of the re-start as Julian Alvarez slipped a pass into the path of Lewis.
3 – Aged 22 years and 275 days, Julián Álvarez is the youngest Argentinean to be directly involved in three goals in a single UEFA Champions League match since Lionel Messi vs FC Bayern München in April 2009, also under Pep Guardiola (21 years 288 days). Blessed. pic.twitter.com/F6OiPrACO6— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2022

Rafa Mir has a vision of glory as he celebrates his opener at the EtihadCredit: Reuters
Spanish striker Rafa Mir rises to put Sevilla in front on 51 minutesCredit: Reuters
The Bury-born youngster took it in his stride and lashed an angled drive beyond Bono.
At 17 years and 346 days, Lewis also became the youngest player to score on his first Champions League start – beating the record held by a certain Karim Benzema.
In terms of English players, only Jude Bellingham was younger when he found the net for the first time in this competition in April last year.
Surprisingly that was City’s first goal in this competition for 267 minutes after drawing a blank in Copenhagen and Dortmund.
The home side came close to going ahead minutes later as Dias thumped a header which was tipped onto the bar by Bono.
Guardiola had seen enough and threw on De Bruyne with 20 minutes remaining to try to find a winner.
It did not take the Belgian maestro long either – as his delicious pass from the right fell perfectly into the path of Alvarez.
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The Argentine calmly went round Bono before clipping his shot into the roof of the net for his fourth goal for City.  
He wasn’t finished there though as he wrestled the ball off Jose Angel Carmona before slipping a pass to Mahrez who lashed home from the edge of the box. More

CELTIC Bernabeud out of the Champions League.Despite losing heavily to Los Blancos, Ange Postecoglou’s men were saluted by their supporters.
A tale of two emotions as Vinicius Jnr scores for Real Madrid and Moritz Jenz looks onCredit: Reuters
Real Madrid swept Scotland’s champions aside with a five-goal Euro lesson.
Yet Jota’s late free-kick saw the campaign somehow end on a high.
It was the final strike of the night after Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde had all scored for the reigning Euro champions.
And incredibly enough to send the travelling supporters home happy.
This European campaign may have ended prematurely after six group games just like their rivals’ across the city – with another crushing defeat.
Yet the difference in reaction from the stands is night and day.
There is no inquest going on at Celtic Park as to why they fell short, no finger-pointing at the manager or his board for poor recruitment.
The feeling is that this could easily have turned out differently.
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That’s why the supporters who got bucket-list tickets for this final fixture applauded their team off the pitch at time up,
The game itself didn’t matter.
Yet to those fans just being here most certainly did.
They accepted it was always going to be a huge ask just to compete against this level of opposition in their own backyard.
It’s Fede Valverde’s season!! 🤩What a sweet strike from the winger, Celtic getting blown away here in Madrid! 💥 Lovely finish! 😮‍💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/GbrJaE87G4— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 2, 2022

Especially with key men missing.
Being without Cameron Carter-Vickers was a massive loss.
Carl Starfelt hadn’t played for two months, since he picked up a knee injury against Rangers back in September.
To say the centre-back was thrown back in at the deep end was an understatement.
The absence of skipper Callum McGregor was another miss given his talent at maintaining possession under pressure.
Would they have made any difference? No.
Madrid’s class was there for all to see as they got the victory they needed to top the group.
Yet everything that could have gone against Celtic did go against them.
Three penalties were awarded in the first-half by French referee Stephanie Frappart – Real scored two and Celtic missed one.
The first was given against Moritz Jenz when he slapped the ball with his arm inside the box. He could have no complaints.
Up stepped Modric to fire Real ahead with only six minutes on the clock.
The second spot-kick came inside 20 minutes.
This time Matt O’Riley was adjudged to have handled the ball to block a shot from Rodrygo.
It was initially missed by the female whistler – in only her second Champions League game – before VAR intervened.
And it seemed harsh on the midfielder who was also booked. 
But Rodrygo grabbed the opportunity to make it 2-0 by sending Joe Hart the wrong way.
It was tough on Celtic.
They actually had big moments to score in the first-half.
Kyogo could have had a double himself had he been more clinical inside the box.
It was just so typical of Celtic’s Euro run.
The real lifeline came in 34 minutes, though, when Liel Abada was brought down inside the penalty area by defender Ferland Mendy.
The ref awarded another spot-kick and Juranovic stepped up with the chance to pull one back for Celts.
The Croatian just lacked the conviction to beat giant keeper Thibaut Courtois who threw himself to his right to make a sensational save.
As they sat in the away changing room at the break Celtic’s players must have worried that things could get ugly if they weren’t careful.
For all they’d had their moments they were also lucky Real hadn’t scored more themselves.
Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before the La Liga megastars were celebrating again.
Celtic’s defending at the third goal wasn’t good enough either as Dani Carvajal cut a ball back from the touchline for Asensio.
No-one in green tracked his run and with space to pick his spot he blasted past Hart.
Real now had their tails up.
They made it 4-0 on the hour mark, Starfelt beaten to the ball by Vinicius Junior who finished brilliantly past Hart to get the goal his overall play deserved.
It was now a damage limitation exercise for Celtic.
But Postecoglou refused to shut up shop.
Subs Giorgos Giakoumakis and David Turnbull were thrown in and both had shots on target which Courtois saved comfortably.
But soon Real were racing upfield and scoring their fifth.
Hart could do nothing to prevent Federico Valverde’s shots from flying past him with the defending in front of him doing him no favours whatsoever.
Still with 20 minutes to go Celtic had lurched into embarrassing territory with Real looking likely to score every time they went forward.
The introduction of a certain Karim Benzema off the bench didn’t make life easier for Celtic either.
Yet it was the away fans who were next up off their feet.
In 84 minutes Jota sensed an opportunity with a free-kick and whipped a tremendous shot past Courtois.
It was nothing more than a consolation but one that meant there world to the Portuguese and the supporters who travelled to Madrid.

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TIMO WERNER limped off for RB Leipzig just three weeks before Germany’s World Cup opener.The former Chelsea striker lasted just 17 minutes of Wednesday night’s 4-0 Champions League romp at Shakhtar Donetsk.
RB Leipzig frontman Timo Werner went down without any contact and had to be taken off early in Wednesday’s clash with Ukrainians ShakhtarCredit: Reuters
Ex-Chelsea ace Werner has been a key man for Leipzig this season and has also started the last eight games for GermanyCredit: Getty
Werner fell to the ground under no pressure after delivering an innocuous pass and signalled he was unable to play on.
But the 26-year-old walked off unaided, with Emil Forsberg coming on to replace him.
Werner has been revitalised since returning to Leipzig in the summer following two mixed seasons with Chelsea.
And nine goals in 15 club games has also cemented his status as a first-choice pick for Germany.
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He’s started the last eight matches for Hansi Flick’s men.
In all, Werner has notched 24 goals in 55 international appearances since his Germany debut five years ago.
And Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes “feeling the love” again is the main reason the attacker was flying until his injury.
Henry told CBS Sports: “I will call it confidence. 
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“You have players who don’t care if you put your arm around them. They will come, execute and leave.
“Then you have some players that need to feel the love. 
“They need to feel maybe that they are going to play for 90 minutes.” More