3 most exciting European clashes in the group stages of 2019-20
The group stages of the Europa League and the Champions League are finally over and it’s certainly all smiles for the English and the Scottish fans heading into the ever-busy Christmas period.
The likes of Celtic, Rangers, Man United, Arsenal and Wolves have all booked their seats in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League while Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Celtic, Man United, Arsenal and Wolves had already guaranteed their qualification to the last 32 of the Europa League heading into their respective Matchday 6 fixtures earlier this week while Rangers were under pressure to churn out some kind of a positive result against Young Boys at home.
Drawn along with Valencia, last year’s semi-finalists Ajax and 2018-19 Ligue 1 runners-up Lille in Group H, Chelsea arguably had the toughest draw among all other English teams in the Champions League group stages. The Blues needed a victory against Lille on the final day to secure qualification and a 2-1 result in favour of Lampard’s men was enough to guide them through to the last 16.
Hence, all the nine teams from England and Scotland have managed to keep their European dreams alive beyond Christmas, and with that in mind, let us revisit 3 of the most thrilling encounters in the 2019-20 European group stages featuring them.
1. Liverpool 4-3 Red Bull Salzburg (Matchday 2)
Liverpool were under pressure to get their European campaign back on track when they played host to RB Salzburg at Anfield on Matchday 2 following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Napoli on opening day.
With Salzburg having demolished Genk 6-2 on Matchday 1, the Reds looked set for a tricky fixture against the Austrian giants but Sadio Mane’s early opener followed by goals from Andrew Robertson and Mo Salah meant that the reigning European champions went 3-0 up inside 36 minutes.
Salzburg silenced the home ground with a dramatic turnaround in the second half, inspired by goals from Takumi Minamino and Erling Braut Haaland, and the Reds were under pressure to do it all over again.
Salzburg showed the guts to push hard for a winner but Salah’s goal at the 69th-minute mark sealed a thrilling 4-3 victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the end, as Liverpool ultimately shoved past a daunting challenge.
2. Chelsea 4-4 Ajax (Matchday 4)
Chelsea’s double-header against Ajax in Group H was always going to go a long way towards deciding the fate of their qualification hopes. After a 1-0 victory over the Eredivisie champions away from home on Matchday 3, Frank Lampard’s side came into the Matchday 4 clash with a slight psychological advantage.
Quincy Promes put Ajax 2-1 up after Tammy Abraham’s unfortunate own goal early in the game had been cancelled out by Jorginho’s penalty. Things turned from bad to worse for the Blues when Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged the flight of Hakim Ziyech’s cross and Donny van de Beek’s goal handed the visitors a 4-1 advantage.
Cesar Azpilicueta pulled one back after the hour mark to make it 4-2 before a double red card incident saw Daley Blind and Joel Veltman receive the marching orders from the referee.
Chelsea capitalized on the significant numerical advantage to draw level through strikes from Reece James and Jorginho and they could have won it had Mitchy Batshuayi and Callum Hudson-Odoi managed to make the most of their chances late in the game.
From a neutral point of view, it was a game that had everything- some mesmerizing individual displays, player dismissals, controversies and a dramatic comeback from the home side.
3. Lazio 1-2 Celtic (Matchday 4)
Having triumphed 2-1 over Lazio on Matchday 3 at Celtic Park courtesy of a late winner from Christopher Jullien, the Hoops made the trip to Rome to on Matchday 4 with an unbeaten record in the Europa League group stages.
It was always going to be intriguing to see whether Neil Lennon’s side could possibly replicate that feat away from home in front of an intimidating atmosphere in Rome – and what unfolded was simply astonishing.
The teams looked set for a 1-1 draw after Ciro Immobile’s early opener had been cancelled out by James Forrest’s goal late in the first half but Lennon managed to tilt the game in Celtic’s favour with some late substitutions.
Olivier Ntcham stunned Lazio with a wonderful finish in the fifth minute of injury-time to ensure a memorable night for the Hoops and one that would surely have made its way into the club’s history books.
