The Champions League group stage kicked off with the first two matches played. In one of them, a massive upset occurred: Manchester United, bolstered by Cristiano Ronaldo, fell to the Swiss side Young Boys (1:2). In the second game, Sevilla held on for a draw against Salzburg. Let’s break it down step by step.
Young Boys 2:1 Manchester United
The first half was mixed for the Red Devils. On one hand, they took the lead thanks to a precise strike by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 13th minute. On the other, Manchester United was reduced to ten men in the 35th minute after Aaron Wan-Bissaka received a straight red card for a reckless foul.
Playing with a man down took its toll. Young Boys gained more control and created threats near the opponent’s goal, earning two rewards. First, in the 66th minute, Nicolas Ngamaleu leveled the score, and then in the 5th minute of added time, Jordan Siebatcheu sealed the win for the Swiss team.
Sevilla 1:1 Salzburg
The match in Spain was equally thrilling, with Sevilla hosting Salzburg. It was officiated by a Belarusian team led by Aleksey Kulbakou, who became the star of the show.
Already in the first half, the Belarusian referee awarded four penalties, three of them against Sevilla.
First, Adeyemi missed his attempt, then Sucic converted from the spot, but he failed to score on the third penalty. In the closing minutes of the half, Sevilla earned their own penalty, which Rakitic successfully converted.
In the second half, the game shifted dramatically after En-Nesyri was sent off for a second yellow card. The rest played out tensely but without goals, ending in a draw.
