European Football Giants Stumble as Barcelona Falls, Manchester City Upset
A seismic shift rippled through the UEFA Champions League group stage on November 8th, as both FC Barcelona and Manchester City suffered defeats, while Slavia Prague secured another valuable point in their campaign. The results dramatically alter the landscape of several qualifying groups, injecting renewed uncertainty into the path toward the knockout stages.
These outcomes represent a significant upset for two of Europe’s perennial contenders, raising questions about their current form and tactical vulnerabilities.Barcelona’s loss, coupled with Slavia Prague’s draw, intensifies the competition for advancement, while Manchester City’s defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen underscores the growing parity within the competition. The implications extend beyond immediate group standings,potentially influencing future transfer strategies and managerial decisions.
Match Results:
* Bodö/Glimt – Juventus Turin 2:3 (Blomberg 27′, Fet 87′ (pen) – Openda 48′, McKennie 59′, J. David 90+1′)
* Borussia Dortmund – FC Villarreal 4:0 (Guirassy 45+2, 55′, Adeyemi 58′, Svensson 90+5′; Foyth (Villarreal) sent off 53′)
* FC Chelsea – FC Barcelona 3:0 (Kounde (o.g.) 27′, Structure 55′, Deliver 73′; Araujo (Barcelona) sent off 44′)
* Manchester city - Bayer Leverkusen 0:2 (Grimaldo 23′, Schick 54′)
* Olympique Marseille – Newcastle United 2:1 (Aubameyang 46′, 50′ – Barnes 6′)
* SSC Napoli – FK Karabakh 2:0 (McTominay 66′, Jankovič 72′; Lobotka played the full match for Napoli)
* Slavia Prague – Athletic Bilbao 0:0 (Prekop on the Slavia bench)
* Ünyay (Galatasaray) – Bayern Munich (ČK: 89.)
