{"id":23318,"date":"2021-09-29T18:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T22:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23318"},"modified":"2021-10-02T10:17:15","modified_gmt":"2021-10-02T14:17:15","slug":"champions-league-round-up-pressure-grows-on-koeman-after-benfica-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23318","title":{"rendered":"Champions League Round Up: Pressure Grows On Koeman After Benfica Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Benfica added to Barcelona’s misery with a 3-0 Champions League victory (AP\/Press Association Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona have made their worst start to a Champions League campaign ever after a chastening 3-0 defeat at Benfica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Portuguese side dealt a further blow to Ronald Koeman, with Barcelona slumping to their second successive defeat in the competition as they also finished the match with 10 men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darwin Nunez netted in the third minute and capped off his side\u2019s scoring with a penalty in the 79th, with Rafa Silva striking in between. Eric Garcia was sent off late on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defeat means Barcelona are under pressure to avoid missing out on the knockout stage for the first time since the 2003-04 season when they did not feature in the competition at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also in Barcelona\u2019s group, Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich stormed to a 5-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewandowski\u2019s goals, including from the penalty spot, came inside the first half an hour, with Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also adding their names to the scoresheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cristiano Ronaldo capped his record-breaking Champions League appearance by firing Manchester United to a stunning late comeback win against Europa League final foes Villarreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A disjointed United were staring down the barrel of a third straight home defeat in all competitions when Paco Alcacer deservedly put Villarreal ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Alex Telles\u2019 sublime volley gave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s side hope and Ronaldo secured a 2-1 win in stoppage time, sending Old Trafford wild on the night he broke Iker Casillas\u2019 all-time Champions League appearance record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also in Group F, Matteo Pessina scored the only goal of the game as Atalanta secured a 1-0 home win over Young Boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zenit St Petersburg stormed to a 4-0 thrashing of 10-man Malmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zenit were already 2-0 up courtesy of Rodrigues Leonel and Daler Kuzyaev when Anel Ahmedhodzic was shown a straight red card in the 53rd minute. Aleksey Sutormin and Wendel then added the third and fourth goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere in the competition, Red Bull Salzburg secured a 2-1 win over Lille in Group G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same group substitute Ivan Rakitic scored a late penalty equalizer to ensure Sevilla secured a draw against 10-man Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n

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