Izuchukwu Okosi
Arsenal made a winning return to the Champions League action on Tuesday night as they squeezed out a nervy 2-1 win against Sevilla under the rains at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus scoring the crucial goals for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s men had lost 1-0 in their previous Group B game against Ligue 1 side, Lens a fortnight ago but showed no sign of leering down their guard away from home without Thomas Partey who copped a thigh injury in training prior to the team’s departure.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelGabriel Jesus continued his impressive form in the UEFA Champions League having played in the competition and shone whilst at Manchester City.
The Brazil forward may not be the prolific 30-goal a season star like Erling Haaland but he has now scored 23 goals in 41 appearances in the Champions League.
A piece of ingenuity from Jesus set up compatriot Gabriel Martinelli to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time before he doubled the lead with a fine, curling finish of his own – although he later limped off having moments earlier held his hamstring.
A textbook Nemanja Gudelj header reduced the arrears on the hour but Mikel Arteta’s side saw out the closing stages to secure victory, moving top of Group B in the process.
Arsenal’s other opponents, Lens and PSV played out a goalless draw drawing in the other Group B game.
England captain and former Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane helped Bayern Munich strengthen their grip on Group A in the Champions League as he scored in a 3-1 win at Galatasaray.
Kane scored his 11th goal in 13 games for the German side as he put them 2-1 up after Kingsley Coman’s early opener was cancelled out by Mauro Icardi’s penalty.
The 30-year-old prodded home from close range in the 73rd minute and then Germany international of Nigerian descent, Jamal Musiala, made the game safe six minutes later to all-but seal qualification for the knockout stages.
Called the ‘English Zidane’ by a section of the media in Spain and England, Jude Bellingham’s electric start to life at Real Madrid continued as he scored in a 2-1 Champions League win at Braga.
The star destined for big things in the game put the Galaticos ahead which has his 11th goal in 12 games for his new club as Madrid took control of Group C, making it three wins out of three.
Brazil forward Rodrygo had put Madrid ahead in the first half before Bellingham doubled the lead on the hour, with Alvaro Djalo getting the Portuguese side back in it.
In the absence of injured Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Giacomo Raspadori’s goal for Italian champions, Napoli as they remained on course for qualification by beating German Bundesliga side Union Berlin 1-0.
Champions League runners-up last season, Inter Milan extended their unbeaten start in Champions League Group D with a 2-1 win over Red Bull Salzburg at San Siro in the early evening kickoff.
Oscar Gloukh gave the Austrians hope when he cancelled out an opener from an Alexis Sanchez opener but Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty extended the fine form of Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Brais Mendez’s 63rd-minute strike earned Real Sociedad a 1-0 win at Benfica.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
