9/19/2024–|Last update: 9/19/202412:54 AM (Makkah Time)
French club Saint-Germain snatched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Spanish club Girona on Wednesday in the first round of the UEFA Champions League.
Portuguese Nuno Mendes scored the only goal of the match in the 90th minute of the match that was held at the Parc des Princes stadium in the capital, Paris.
With this result, Saint-Germain, who dreams of winning the title for the first time in its history, collected the first 3 points in its journey in the league stage of the continental competition.
It is noteworthy that Girona is participating in the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Nuno Mendes scores a bizarre goal against Girona #Champions_League pic.twitter.com/S77hkdkagb
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) September 18, 2024
Dortmund beat Brugge 3-0
English substitute striker Jamie Baino-Gittens led his team Borussia Dortmund (last season’s runner-up) to a big win over their host Club Brugge of Belgium, with a score of three goals, including a brace in Brugge.
Baino-Gittens tipped the balance in favour of the visitors with two goals in 10 minutes after coming on in the 68th minute in place of Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer.
This player gave Dortmund the lead in the 76th minute, then added the second when he received the ball inside the area from Felix Nemecha, then he played around two defenders and shot it into the goal (86).
The other substitute, Guinean international Serhou Guirassy, sealed the win with a third goal from a penalty kick, which he took after being fouled by defender Brandon Miquele (90+5).
Dortmund were drawn to face Barcelona, defending champions Real Madrid, Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, Scottish club Celtic, Belgian club Genk, Austrian club Sturm Graz and Italian club Bologna. Club Brugge will play against English club Manchester City, Italian club Juventus, Italian club AC Milan, Portuguese club Sporting, Scottish club Celtic, English club Aston Villa and Sturm Graz.
Watch Dortmund’s brilliant player Jimmy Gittens’ brace against Club Brugge ⚽️⚽️🔥#Champions_League pic.twitter.com/m6exbCnhGt
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) September 18, 2024
Goals Festival
Scottish club Celtic opened their league campaign with a 5-1 win over visiting Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.
The Scottish team took the lead through Irishman Liam Scales in the 17th minute, and Japanese Kyogo Furuhashi added the second goal in the 47th minute, then Belgian Arne Engels scored the third goal for the Scottish team in the 56th minute from a penalty kick.
Austrian Kevin Wimmer reduced the deficit by scoring a goal for Slovan Bratislava in the 61st minute, but Japanese Daizen Maeda added the fourth goal for Celtic in the 70th minute.
Irishman Adam Idah concluded the Scottish goal festival, scoring Celtic’s fifth goal in the 87th minute.
Czech Sparta Prague returned to the Champions League with a 3-0 win over visiting Red Bull Salzburg, in their first match in Europe’s top club competition in 19 years.