MONACO
\nBarcelona made a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign by losing 2-1 to AS Monaco on Thursday after suffering an early blow from defender Eric Garcia\u2019s dismissal.
\nMeanwhile, a stunning David Raya double-save ensured Arsenal a goalless draw away to Europa League winners Atalanta.
\nBarcelona had a dreadful start at the Stade Louis II stadium when Garcia was shown a straight red card 11 minutes in for a foul on Monaco\u2019s Takumi Minamino, who was clear in front of goal after a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t understand each other in that moment, I feel bad for Eric,\u201d Ter Stegen told Movistar Plus.
\n\u201cWe played 80 minutes with one less. It\u2019s a football thing. The defeat hurts, because with 10 men on the pitch we gave our all and tried to get a point.\u201d
\nThe hosts grabbed the lead five minutes later when Maghnes Akliouche struck a low shot into the net, before Barcelona\u2019s Lamine Yamal equalised in the 28th minute by finishing from the edge of the penalty area.
\nIt was the first Champions League goal for Yamal who became the second youngest scorer (17-years-old, 68 days) in the competition behind team-mate Ansu Fati in 2019 (17-years-old, 40 days).
\nHansi Flick\u2019s kept his stubborn approach as he decided to defend with a high line but the tactic backfired as Monaco retained their lead in the 71st minute.
\nA dangerous long ball by Venderson found substitute George Ilenikhena who fired past Ter Stegen to secure victory.
\n\u201cThe game changed completely (with the red card),\u201d Barcelona manager Flick said.
\n\u201cWe tried all the time, we defended with passion. We made some mistakes, but we tried to score goals. We had a few chances, but they deserved to win.
\n\u201cNow we have to come back stronger, recover for Sunday\u2019s game (at Villarreal in La Liga). We have to give our best and fight for the team,\u201d the German coach added.
\nIt was Monaco\u2019s first main stage appearance in five years in Europe\u2019s elite club competition.
\n\u201cWinning against Barca, one of the biggest clubs in Europe, makes us happy and proud,\u201d said Monaco coach Adi Hutter. \u201cWe played with courage and created a lot of chances.\u201d
\nIn Italy, Arsenal goalkeeper Raya earned his side a point in a tough start to their campaign against Atalanta with a 0-0 draw.
\nA tight match was lit up six minutes after the interval when Mateo Retegui saw Raya plunge down to his right to keep out his penalty, after a foul by Thomas Partey on Ederson.
\nThe ball rebounded up in the air and Retegui looked set to casually nod the dropping ball into the gaping net but the Spaniard sprang to his feet and hurled himself back across the goal-line to claw the ball to safety.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s just a penalty and I was lucky to go the right way and save it,\u201d Raya told TNT Sports.
\n\u201cI was unlucky to give the rebound straight back to him but I was quick enough to get up and save it.\u201d
\nIn the Spanish capital, a 90th-minute header by Jose Maria Gimenez sent Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone scuttling down the touchline in delight as his side edged visitors RB Leipzig 2-1.
\nBenjamin Sesko had put the German side in front just four minutes in, but Antoine Griezmann equalised just prior to the half-hour with a controlled finish from inside the penalty area.
\nThe Frenchman then turned provider as he chipped a cross into the box, which Gimenez leapt highest to win at the back post and glance the ball back across Peter Gulacsi and into the Leipzig goal to spark wild celebrations in the Metropolitano Stadium.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, to get a last-minute goal like this is always fantastic and it\u2019s good to give the fans something to cheer about,\u201d Atletico\u2019s former Leipzig striker Alexander Sorloth told DAZN.<\/p>\n
\u2018EFFICIENT\u2019 LEVERKUSEN
\nBayer Leverkusen starlet Florian Wirtz enjoyed a dream Champions League debut as the Bundesliga champions thumped Dutch side Feyenoord 4-0 away from home.
\nThe 21-year-old scored a brace either side of an Alex Grimaldo strike before an own goal by Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther ensured Leverkusen had the points wrapped up by half-time.
\n\u201cIt may have looked pretty easy, but it\u2019s really not,\u201d Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso told reporters. \u201cOverall it was a very serious, very efficient performance from us, but it\u2019s never easy.\u201d
\nIn the night\u2019s other match, French side Brest made a winning start in their first-ever appearance in European competition by seeing off Austria\u2019s Sturm Graz 2-1.
\nPlaying at Brittany rivals Guingamp\u2019s home ground as their own stadium does not meet UEFA standards, Brest took the lead midway through the first half through Hugo Magnetti.
\nAn own-goal by Edimilson Fernandes on the stroke of half-time levelled matters but Abdallah Sima\u2019s smart finish in the 56th minute was enough to divide the sides.
\nElsewhere, Benfica held on in Serbia against Red Star Belgrade to claim a 2-1 win courtesy of goals in the first half by Turkish duo Kerem Akturkoglu and Orkun Kokcu.
\nThe second matchday of the Champions League league phase will take place on Oct 1 and 2 with Arsenal hosting Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich travelling to Aston Villa and reigning champions Real Madrid visiting Lille.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MONACO Barcelona made a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign by losing 2-1 to AS Monaco on Thursday after suffering an early blow from defender Eric Garcia\u2019s dismissal. Meanwhile, a stunning David Raya double-save ensured Arsenal a goalless draw away to Europa League winners Atalanta. Barcelona had a dreadful start at the Stade Louis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-432790","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n