Marcus Rashford proved the right alternative for Lamine Yamal in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Newcastle in the Champions League, and Kevin De Bruyne watched principally from the sideline as Napoli misplaced 2-0 at his former membership Manchester City.
With Yamal lacking via harm, Rashford — a mortgage signing from Manchester United — acquired a begin on his return to England and scored each of Barcelona’s objectives at St. James’ Park. The second took the breath away, a piledriver from 25 meters that flew in off the crossbar.
De Bruyne was additionally again on English soil, on the membership the place he spent 10 years earlier than an emotional farewell in May. But his Etihad Stadium return lasted 26 minutes earlier than he was substituted following a purple card for teammate Giovanni Di Lorenzo and City wound up a cushty winner due to second-half objectives from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.
Haaland’s header put him on 50 objectives in 49 Champions League appearances, with the Norway striker reaching that milestone faster than every other participant in the competitors’s historical past.
Kairat, a event newcomer from Kazakhstan, made what’s considered longest ever trek for a Champions League fixture — throughout three time zones and greater than 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) — and misplaced 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon. Sporting scored its last three objectives in a four-minute span in the second half and in addition had a penalty saved.
The comeback of the night time went to Eintracht Frankfurt, which recovered from conceding in the eighth minute to beat Galatasaray 5-1.
Rashford’s double
England coach Thomas Tuchel was in the stands of a raucous St. James’ Park to witness Rashford showcase his ending skills that Man United may do with proper now.
His first aim was a header off Jules Koundé’s cross in the 58th to place Barcelona forward earlier than he created house for himself with some intelligent footwork and blasted a right-footed shot from outdoors the realm off the underside of the bar in the 67th.
“100%, I’m full of excitement,” Rashford said after his first goals for Barcelona. “I’m very motivated and determined. The quality we have in the team, that excites me alone. It’s so refreshing to play with these guys.”
Anthony Gordon pulled one again for Newcastle in the 89th, placing in a low cross from substitute Jacob Murphy.
Newcastle supervisor Eddie Howe left report signing Nick Woltemade — the alternative for Alexander Isak — on the bench till the 63rd.
De Bruyne’s return
Napoli’s defensive reorganisation following Di Lorenzo’s purple card for fouling Haaland because the final man meant De Bruyne was sacrificed. Ever the workforce participant, the Belgium playmaker took the choice effectively, jogging off to applause from a house crowd that after cheered his each help and aim.
Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne in the course of the match in opposition to Manchester City
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
“It was the one choice I may do,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte said. “I was really, really sorry for him.”
By the end of the game, City fans were chanting De Bruyne’s name, confident the three points were safe and their former hero — perhaps the club’s greatest-ever player — couldn’t hurt them.
“He’s a legend of the club,” City midfielder Phil Foden stated. “I can not thank him sufficient for what he has executed.”
City’s undoubted star is now Haaland and the Norway striker has began the season in red-hot kind, together with his intelligent header in the 56th from Foden’s flick into the field making it 12 objectives in seven matches for membership and nation.
“He seems to break every record going,” Foden stated of Haaland. “It’s unheard of what he’s doing.” Doku’s aim was an excellent solo run and end via the goalkeeper’s legs in the sixty fifth as City finally wore down Napoli and took the chance to take off key gamers, like Rodri and Haaland, for a giant Premier League sport at Arsenal on Sunday.
Monaco blown away
Club Brugge proved too scorching to deal with for Monaco.
The guests had been crushed 4-1 a day after their flight to Belgium was aborted as a result of the air con on the aircraft malfunctioned and gamers had been compelled to take their garments off because of the excessively scorching situations.
Monaco, which ended up flying out Thursday morning as a substitute, was blown away by a three-goal burst in a 10-minute spell late in the primary half, when Nicolò Tresoldi, Raphael Onyedika and Hans Vanaken had been the scorers.
Hjulmand’s return
Kasper Hjulmand returned to Denmark for his first Champions League match in cost of Bayer Leverkusen — and a primary in over a decade — and noticed his new workforce escape with a 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen due to a stoppage-time own-goal.
Pantelis Hatzidiakos deflected the ball into his personal internet from substitute Claudio Echeverri’s cross to present Leverkusen a second equalizer, with the primary coming from Álex Grimaldo’s beautiful free kick in the 82nd..
Hjulmand, the previous Denmark coach, changed Erik ten Hag at Leverkusen simply three video games into the season. Ten Hag solely took over from Xabi Alonso in the summer season.
Published – September 19, 2025 10:29 am IST
