Big mistake Gzaver Schlager threatened to leave Leipzig on its knees, but German persistence paid off for the umpteenth time - the "bulls" attacked Manchester City with all their weapons in the 2nd half, and fate wanted them to a draw in the first match of the round of 1 (1:XNUMX) was brought by one of the most sought-after young defenders in the world, Josko Guardiol.
And 880 kilometers to the south, the hero was a man who in the last year and a half was often the target of criticism, Romelu Lukaku.
The striker, who lost his spark when he returned to Chelsea from Inter for 2021 million euros in the summer of 113, never managed to find his form even on his return to "Giuseppe Meaco", but tonight he showed what class he is and brought the "Nerazuri" a victory over Porto ( 1:0).
The strong point guard is after the cross Nikoloa Barela hit the post with his head, someone probably already "rewound the film" from the match between Belgium and Croatia, but... The ball returned to Lukaku's left foot, so Diogo Košta couldn't do it...
The rematch at "Dragau" will certainly be fiery, because they are the chosen ones Serge Konseisai showed that they were not 1st in the group by chance.
They also had two great chances - in the 1st half, Marko Grujic shot hard, but straight in Andrea Onan, after which it is Galen missed the empty net, in order to in the 57th minute, the Cameroonian goalkeeper brilliantly saved the shots of Zaidu and Mehdi Taremi in a few seconds.
Inter put a lot of pressure in the finish, and his job was made easier from the 78th minute, when Ottavio received a second yellow card.
Lukaku took advantage of that, and could have scored another goal already in the 88th minute, but Košta made a great save.
Porto's goalkeeper also reacted exceptionally well in stoppage time in the 1st half in the style of the best libero in volleyball, saved Alessandro Bastoni's close-range header with his forearm.
In Germany, City was on the verge of its eighth victory in the last nine first legs of the round of 26 of the Champions League, as the Austrian national team member Schlager put the ball straight into his feet in the 30th minute, XNUMX meters from the goal. Jack Grealish, the Englishman immediately added it Riyad Mareza, who defeated the weak Janis Blasvich.
Team Mark Roze attacked with all weapons in the 2nd half, Ederson defended everything, but it was he who made a mistake in the 70th minute - he misjudged the flight of the ball after the cross Marcel Halstenberg, and Guardiol slightly jumped over Ruben Dijas and shook the empty net.
The second leg will be played on March 14.
Bonus video:
