Champions League

SITTING at home on his sofa in Birmingham, these were the nights Jack Grealish dreamed of being a part of.Before his £100million move to Manchester City this summer, mid-week Champions League nights were spent tweeting and drooling over his idol Kevin De Bruyne on TV.
Lionel Messi scored a stunning first goal for PSGCredit: Getty
But Jack Grealish failed to deliver in the French capitalCredit: Reuters
Now, he is a part of them.
The fantasy is being played out in real life. Sharing a pitch with the likes of De Bruyne, Neymar and Lionel Messi in the footballing cauldron that is the Parc des Princes.
A life-long ambition has been ticked off for the kid raised in Solihull, one he spoke about on repeat while ripping it up for his boyhood Aston Villa season after season in the Prem.
The question now is: Can he do more than simply be a member of the cast? Can he play starring role in games full of world class talent? Can he be the one people drool over?
On Tuesday night’s evidence, there were glimpses. Flashes of light in an otherwise disappointing European away-day for Pep Guardiola’s City.
But playing for a club and a side striving to win this competition by beating the continent’s very best – especially with a £100m price tag – there must be more than glimpses.

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Messi showed the young English prodigy the way with his stunning late goal. He doesn’t do glimpses. He does thunderbolts.
Grealish is an ambitious lad. He is desperate to elevate his own game to those sorts of levels at a crucial point in his career.
He knows he belongs on this stage. He showed at the Euros with England that he can mix it with the game’s elite at his wonderful, defender-dizzying, hair-bouncing best.
But he will also know more than most that nights like these are ones that cannot pass you by. They don’t come around that often.
On this occasion, despite his and his team’s efforts, it was not a memorable Grealish outing to stick in the scrap book. Messi was hardly made to look out of date.
Guardiola agreed, hooking him off just after the hour mark for another young English talent looking to make his mark on the biggest stages, Phil Foden.
Messi’s stunning strike was reminiscent of his Barcelona daysCredit: Getty
His stand-out snap shots were ones of him slamming the floor in frustration like a disgruntled toddler as the Spanish ref took little notice of his dramatic tumbles.
Some things never change.
His impact on the game early on was limited before Parisian midfielder Idrissa Gueye rifled a rocket into the top corner in the ninth minute.
As City pushed for a way back into the game, they turned to their record signing for inspiration down the left.
There were those now-famous jinks of the hips and darts inside up against Hakimi, but none that brought about too much in the form of chances.
Former Premier League star Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring
Although it was his dart inside mid-way through the half that sparked City’s best chance – teeing up De Bruyne for the cross. Raheem Sterling hit the bar. Bernardo Silva somehow followed suit.
The second half was full of much of the same as City struggled to seriously test Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Grealish made the occasional dart into the box, only to stutter and stall as PSG swarmed around him like a nasty rash.
And he had the best seat in the house – from the bench – as Messi gave a stark reminder why he is still the best of the best.
Take notes, Jack. Your dreams may have come true, but there is a long way to go.
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THIS was supposed to be the nasty group.Of the four English teams in the Champions League, the warning lights were flashing for Liverpool when they were put together with Porto, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah opened the scoring against Porto in the 18th minuteCredit: Rex
Senegal international Sadio Mane doubled the Reds’ lead away in Portugal just before the breakCredit: Getty
Yet Jurgen Klopp’s team, once again, already look dead certs for the knockout stages after making light work of Porto. Once again.
A thrilling, nerve-shredding win over Milan in the opening round of Europe was followed here in Portugal by a remarkably easy win courtesy of some laughable defending by the hosts and clever play by the Reds.
Equally, it also helps when Mohamed Salah is in your team.
Incredibly, Liverpool have now smashed 14 goals past Porto in their three games here and while this team oozes European experience, 20-year-old Curtis Jones proved – yet again – that he is going to be one hell of a player. He already is, to be fair.
But Salah has still been the headline story of Liverpool’s season. Having reached his century of Premier League goals for Liverpool in the 3-3 draw with Brentford, edged towards another record last night with his 28th and 29th Champions League goals.
As he threatens to tear all of the Liverpool scoring records apart, Salah is just one goal behind Steven Gerrard, the club’s top scorer in the competition.
And his blistering form also serves as a warning for Manchester City with the teams meeting at Anfield this Sunday.

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In Europe, Liverpool’s next outing is away to Atletico on October 19, but even if they suffer a wobble in the Spanish capital, it seems highly unlikely – from what we have seen in Group B so far – that Klopp will have too many problems.
This was Liverpool’s third visit here to the Estadio do Dragao in the space of three-and-half years.
The team recorded impressive 5-0 and 4-1 wins, both in the knockout stages, to silence a notoriously rowdy crowd but there was a different atmosphere yesterday as there was social distancing in the stands.
Missing for Liverpool was Trent Alexander-Arnold who has suffered a groin issue and he also looks set to miss Sunday’s battle with City.
Porto also suffered one major blow in the warm-up when 38-year-old captain Pepe, who had been struggling with a muscle injury, pulled up with a problem in the warm-up.
And they had to reshuffle again in the 14th minute when right-winger Otavio, their best player, also suffered a problem.
Shortly after, in their first defensive mistake, Porto were punished.
Jones, who looks as though he has been playing in this Liverpool midfield for years, cut in from the left as the home defence stood off him.
Liverpool outclassed Porto at the Estadio do Dragao for their second Champions League win of the seasonCredit: AP
Egyptian king Salah has banged in eight goals in all competitions this termCredit: AP
His shot was parried by keeper Diogo Costa, left-back Zaidu made a complete mess of a clearance and Salah was handed a simple chance to poke the ball in.
Goal number 28 in the Champions League came in only his 48th appearance but another one would follow later.
Porto lost confidence, dropped back and invited more Liverpool pressure before becoming an embarrassing shambles.
Keeper Costa saved one effort from Andy Robertson and delivered an outstanding stop to tip over Jordan Henderson’s effort which was arrowing towards the top corner.
Yet that stop purely delayed the inevitable as Porto displayed some major weakness without veteran Pepe organising the defence.
It was another easy goal, this time for Sadio Mane, who could not believe his luck as the Porto defence and their keeper left James Milner’s cross for each other.
There was a VAR check for offside but it was always going to stand and hardly surprisingly, the home fans started to turn on their team.
The second half felt more like a training ground exercise and the third came on the hour when Jones delivered the finest moment of the game.
Roberto Firmino put Liverpool 4-1 up after Mehdi Taremi had pulled one back for the hosts
Firmino celebrates with Brazilian compatriot Fabinho after scoring Liverpool’s fifth against PortoCredit: AFP
He won possession in his own half and carried the ball effortlessly towards the edge of the home area and he spotted an unmarked Salah who took one touch before burying the ball through the keeper’s legs.
Alisson was finally beaten by a header from Mehdi Taremi following a move down the right although Liverpool’s defending was sloppy.
Substitute Roberto Firmino made the most of an moment of comical decision-making by keeper Costa who charging off his line and the Brazilian rolled the ball towards the net from 40 yards.
The outstanding Jones was involved in that move and although he deserved a goal, his his shot rebounded towards Firmino who curled the ball into the corner.
After being flagged offside after an incredibly long wait, the goal was awarded.
What another remarkable victory in the second city of Portugal although you would expect Liverpool’s defence to be handed a far tougher test when City arrive in four days’ time.
Equally, having started the season in the way they finished last term, Liverpool currently look as though they will put together a much better challenge from last season.
The Manchester City bus driver will not be the only person terrified about the trip to Anfield on Sunday. Pep Guardiola and his team also have every reason to worry.
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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Lionel Messi scored his first goal for the club… and it was worth the wait.The Argentina captain, 34, hit a stunning strike from the edge of the box to break his PSG duck against Manchester City on Tuesday evening.

Lionel Messi scored a stunning goal against Man City – his first for PSGCredit: Getty
The Argentine icon curled a left-footed effort from the edge of the boxCredit: Getty
It was a typical Messi goal. The Barcelona icon picked up the ball in his own half and began running at the weary Man City defence.
Pep Guardiola’s players stood off the forward before he laid the ball off to team-mate Kylian Mbappe on the edge of the box.
The Frenchman played a neat one-two onto Messi’s left foot and he fired into the top-left corner of Ederson’s goal.
PSG fans went wild at the Parc des Princes to celebrate their newest star as the hosts went on to complete a convincing 2-0 victory.
Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring early on before Messi’s outstanding strike 16 minutes from time settled the contest.
Guardiola, Messi’s old Barca boss, will be disappointed with his Man City stars as they enjoyed the bulk of the possession and had 18 shots on goal.

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Messi will be relieved to bag his first goal for the French giants after failing to score in his first three outings.
He was subbed in PSG’s 2-1 victory against title rivals Lyon earlier this month and missed their last game against Montpellier through injury.
Guardiola recently suggested PSG are now an unstoppable force after adding Messi to their illustrious ranks.
Fans are excited to see how Messi links up with Mbappe and Neymar during this season after catching a glimpse on Tuesday evening.
Speaking before the game, Guardiola said: “This amount of quality I don’t know how to stop them, they’re so good.
“When you’ve got this amount of talent altogether it makes it so difficult to control.”
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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Neymar tried to produce a rainbow flick against Manchester City on Tuesday evening.The Brazilian, 29, attempted to loop the ball over Riyad Mahrez but failed and gave possession away in the Champions League clash.

Neymar tried to produce a rainbow flick in the Champions LeagueCredit: BT Sport
But miscalculated his effort and gave the ball awayCredit: BT Sport
The PSG ace wore Micky Mouse earrings in the warm-up ahead of the clash with Man City
Neymar’s audacious bit of skill came in the 15th minute at the Parc des Princes, shortly after Idrissa Gueye gave PSG a 1-0 lead.
The forward, who wore MICKY MOUSE earrings before the game, failed to execute the flick and was left red-faced as City regained possession.
And fans on social media were not impressed with Neymar, with one tweeting: “That was useless.”
While another wrote: “It’s only nice when it generates goals.”
And one supporter tweeted: “This sums up Neymar. Aesthetics over efficiency.”
Neymar’s rainbow flick comes just six days after his Brazil team-mate Luis Paqueta was BOOKED for trying the same in a Ligue 1 game.

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The flashy move is banned in French football and the PSG ace expressed his anger at the authorities for Paqueta’s punishment.
Neymar wrote on Instagram: “This episode is very, very sad, receiving a yellow card for a dribble.
“The technical gesture is a solution, no matter where it takes place and no matter what minute it is performed”
It’s thought players are allowed to produce rainbow flicks in Champions League games and Neymar may have just done it in protest.
The ex-Barca star also received a yellow card in Ligue 1 for performing the move during a 5-0 victory against Montpellier in February 2020.
Neymar added: “The same thing happened to me last season. This year, it’s happened to Paqueta. Honestly, I don’t understand the reasons.
“The famous ‘Joga Bonito’ [beautiful game] is over. Enjoy while it lasts.”
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