Opening blues

Paris, September 18

Holders Liverpool began their defence of the Champions League trophy with a defeat against Napoli on Tuesday, while one missed spot-kick condemned Chelsea to defeat against Valencia and another came to Barcelona’s rescue.

Both sides had chances in the Group E clash before the hosts won a late penalty with barely 10 minutes remaining when Jose Callejon went down under an Andy Robertson challenge. Dries Mertens beat Adrian from 12 yards and substitute Fernando Llorente  then took advantage of a rare defensive lapse by Virgil van Dijk to make it 2-0 in stoppage time.

Hat-trick hero Haaland

Liverpool must now bounce back in two weeks when they host Austrian champions Salzburg, who made a stunning return to the group stage as teenage forward Erling Braut Haaland netted a hat-trick in a 6-2 demolition of Genk. Haaland gave Salzburg the lead and netted two more before half-time. Aged just 19 years and 58 days, Haaland is the third-youngest player to score a Champions League hat-trick behind Wayne Rooney and Raul. The South Korean Hwang Hee-Chan and Dominik Szoboszlai also struck before the break for Salzburg, while captain Andreas Ulmer completed the rout in the second half. 

Jhon Lucumi and Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta scored for the Belgian side.

Chelsea lose 

Last season’s Europa League winners Chelsea ensured it was two defeats out of two on the night for English sides as they lost 1-0 at home to Valencia. The Spaniards scored in the 74th minute through Rodrigo Moreno. Chelsea were given a chance to rescue a draw when Daniel Wass was penalised for handball in the box, but Ross Barkley’s 87th-minute penalty hit the bar and went over.

Barca, Dortmund draw 

Barcelona will be relieved to escape from their trip to Borussia Dortmund with a 0-0 draw as Lionel Messi returned from injury as a second-half substitute. 

Marco Reus had a second-half penalty saved before  Julian Brandt hit the bar late on. — AFP