Arsenal defeated Sevilla in the match of the third round of the group stage of the Champions League

In the central match of the first day of the third round of the group stage of the Champions League, London Arsenal beat Sevilla away – 2:1. This victory allowed the English club to take first place in Group B, where it was only slightly behind the French Lens.

The confusing situation that has arisen in group B, did not imply compromises in the confrontation between Sevilla and Arsenal. Slightly inferior to the French Lens, who were ahead after two rounds, they were obliged to tune in for the maximum result in two consecutive head-to-head meetings, which could largely determine the fate of at least one ticket to the play-offs.

Arsenal, which occupies a place in the leading group of the English Championship, this season looks preferable to Sevilla, which, due to a disastrous start in the Spanish Championship, replaced former head coach José Luis Mendilibar, winner of the Europa League last season, with one who had no experience in working in European teams of Uruguayan Diego Alonso. But this was not a case where the winner was easily predicted in advance. And overall the match lived up to expectations. The first half was largely equal, and its climax came in the last minute, when the visitors carried out a spectacular counter-attack with the participation of the three Brazilian namesakes of the Gabriels – Magalhães, Jesus and Martinelli, who ran away from the Sevilla defenders and easily beat the Norwegian goalkeeper Erwin Nyland. The second half began with Arsenal’s attacks, and less than ten minutes after the break, Jesus, breaking into the opponent’s penalty area from the left flank, doubled the Londoners’ advantage with a wonderful dribbling shot from his right foot into the far corner. However, their opponents did not lose heart and soon got even with one goal. It was scored after a cross from Croatian Ivan Rakitic’s corner by one of the pillars of Sevilla’s defense, Serbian Nemanja Gudelj. The result was 2:1, and this victory allowed Arsenal to take the lead in the group with 6 points. Second with 5 points is the French Lens, who earned an away draw – 1:1 – with the Dutch PSV, which now, like Sevilla, has 2 points.

Meanwhile in group A Manchester United improved its affairs a little, having suffered two defeats at the start. Thanks to a goal from defender Harry Maguire, he defeated Copenhagen at home with a minimal score, which in the last minute had the opportunity to save himself with a penalty, which was not converted by the Swede Jordan Larsson, famous for his performances for Spartak Moscow. Since Bayern previously beat Galatasaray in Istanbul – 3:1, Munich, the undisputed favorites of the group, have 9 points, the Turkish champion – 4, Manchester United – 3, and Copenhagen – 1. However, the English team , which now faces a meeting in Denmark, is still in a difficult situation.

IN group C The visitors won both matches. Real Madrid defeated the Portuguese Braga – 2:1, and the Italian Napoli defeated the Berlin Union – 1:0. Here Real has 9 points, Napoli has 6, Braga has 3, Union has 0.

IN group D Inter Milan, after a home victory over Salzburg – 2:1, has 7 points. The Spanish club Real Sociedad has the same number, which, not without the participation of Russian midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, who came on as a substitute, beat Lisbon Benfica away – 1:0. At the same time, the champion of Austria has 3 points, and the champion of Portugal has 0.

Evgeniy Fedyakov