Can Athletic Club Prevent PSG from Scoring in a Goalless Draw?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PSG held to a surprising goalless draw by Athletic Club.
- Bodo/Glimt displayed resilience to draw against Dortmund.
- Juventus continued their winning streak in the Champions League.
- Copenhagen achieved back-to-back wins for the first time in over a decade.
- Key players made significant contributions in all matches.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) In a surprising turn of events, Paris Saint-Germain faced a goalless draw against Athletic Club in Bilbao, marking the first instance this season where the reigning champions were unable to find the back of the net. Unai Simon emerged as the standout performer for the home side, making a series of crucial saves, including two remarkable stops against Senny Mayulu and a late effort from his fellow Spaniard, Fabian Ruiz.
Bardley Barcola came close to breaking the deadlock for PSG, darting behind the defense only to see his shot strike the crossbar, leaving the scoreline unchanged at San Mames.
In another match, Bodo/Glimt rallied twice to secure a spirited 2-2 draw against Dortmund. Despite Dortmund's dominance in the game, Nikita Haikin, the goalkeeper for Bodo, executed two outstanding saves that kept his team in contention.
Julian Brandt was the first to score for Dortmund, but Haitam Aleesami equalized just before halftime. Brandt netted again, but Haikin's impressive saves allowed Jens Petter Hauge to outmaneuver Gregor Kobel and secure the draw.
Meanwhile, Juventus celebrated two consecutive victories in the Champions League, with second-half goals from Weston McKennie and Jonathan David. The first half saw chances for both teams, with Anderson from Pafos hitting the post.
With renewed vigor in the second half, the hosts finally capitalized when McKennie struck following some excellent buildup play. As Pafos sought an equalizer, they were caught on the counterattack, with Kenan Yıldız assisting David, who coolly finished to clinch the points.
Copenhagen achieved back-to-back wins in the Champions League for the first time since the 2010/11 season, thanks to Andreas Cornelius, who netted a 90th-minute winner against Villarreal in a thrilling 3-2 matchup. The visitors started strong with Mohamed Elyounoussi's early goal, but Villarreal equalized shortly into the second half through Santiago Comesaña.
The Danish team quickly regained the lead as Elias Achouri scored from Yoram Zague's cross, but Villarreal responded once again, with Tani Oluwaseyi leveling the score. Ultimately, it was Cornelius' late strike that secured the victory.