Champions League scores: Tottenham top Group D, Liverpool hand Napoli first loss of season, more
It took two second-half goals, but Spurs became the fourth Premier League team in the knockout stage
Just like that, Tuesday has seen half of the Champions League groups finalized. All the action was in Group D where reigning Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt were able to go from third in the group to second after a 2-1 victory over Sporting CP. Spurs were able to do just enough with a second half equalizer from Clement Lenglet and a goal from Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg to defeat Marseille 2-1 to top the group after losing Heung-Min Son to a head injury in the first half.
Elsewhere, Bayern defeated Inter Milan 2-0 as Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting has now scored in his sixth straight match and Barcelona hit four goals past Plzen. Liverpool were able to hand Napoli their first loss this season behind goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, but it wasn't enough to finish first in the group.
The early matches saw Group B wrapped up as Porto won 2-1 over Atletico Madrid to win the group. Club Brugge drew with Bayer Leverkusen which means that Atletico Madrid will be crashing out of Europe entirely which is quite a disappointment.
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Tuesday's scores
- FC Porto 2, Atletico Madrid 1
- Bayer Leverkusen 0, Club Brugge 0
- Bayern Munich 2, Inter Milan 0
- Liverpool 2, Napoli 0
- Olympique de Marseille 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2
- Rangers 1, Ajax 3
- Viktoria Plzen 2, Barcelona 4
- Sporting CP 1, Eintracht Frankfurt 2
Leaving it for late
At some point Spurs will need to show up in the first half of matches, but they've shown in the past week that comebacks are something that they can do. Facing Bournemouth it was Rodrigo Bentancur that got the winner in the 92nd minute, Piere-Emile Hojbjerg did him one (or three) better. with a 95th minute goal to win Group D, ensuring that Spurs avoid some of the biggest teams in the competition in the knockout stages.
With Antonio Conte suspended, the team still found motivation after falling behind to Chancel Memba's header in the first half. With better finishing, the game was there for Marseille's taking but now they're out of Europe all together. While there is certainly room for improvement with Spurs, it's easier to make those improvements from strong positions in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Misfortune for Rangers
Not picking up a point during their matches in Group A and also conceding 22 goals, Rangers have finished as the worst team to play in the Champions League group stage with a goal difference of -20. While they'll want better performances from the team, Group A ended up being a loaded group as Napoli and Liverpool finished level on 15 points while Ajax scored for fun but struggled to defend. Napoli have become one of the best teams in the world this season while Liverpool have been excellent in Champions League play even though their Premier League form doesn't match that. It was an impossible mountain to climb for Rangers but they did at least give it their all.
Mehdi Taremi and Porto sparkle
After Club Brugge got off to an electric start to things, it seems like they would walk to the top spot in Group B but Porto came storming back to win the group and knock Atletico Madrid into last place for the first time ever in a Champions League group stage. Mehdi Taremi has been a large part of their success, scoring five goals so far in Champions League play. For fans of England, Wales and the United States, Taremi is finding form at the wrong time as he could make his Iran side a tough out at the World Cup. Porto and Benfica will carry the flag for their league after Sporting CP couldn't hold on, but they're proving to be worthy bannermen.
Mohamed Salah scores
Who else but the top scorer in Champions League play to put Liverpool ahead. It's the seventh Champions League goal for Salah now.
That's quite a goal
So much movement in Group D
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, goalscoring galore
Bayern Munich have scored another and Choupo Moting has now scored in six consecutive matches leading the line for Bayern.
It's Frankfurt's second half
Sporting CP were overwhelmed and Randal Kolo Muani has scored to enter the driver's seat in the group. What a turnaround for them!
Barcelona have gotten another
Torre makes up for conceding a penalty by scoring his own goal.
All he does is score
Right back in it
Kamada has leveled it for Frankfurt
Group D is delivering as both games are now level as anyone can advance.
There's a big big goal for Spurs
It's set play dominance again as Peresic delivers a great ball that Lenglet puts in the back of the net. It's again a goal that would see Spurs advance to the next round.
Barcelona hit back in seconds via Torres
It's Raphinha with the excellent assist on this one.
A goal for Plzen!
After a foul by Torre, Tomas Chory drove home his penalty kick!
Mbemba scores!!!
Marseille capitalised from a header and you can see frustration setting in for Spurs as players are looking around to see who blew their assignment. At this point, Marseille are through to the knockout stages. What a statement before the half.
Another goal for Barcelona
Ferran Torres has scored for Barcelona and it was confirmed after an automated check for offsides. It's a race between Plzen and Rangers for the worst ever Champions League team at this stage.
Big goal for Sporting CP
As of now, they'll win Group D if results stay as they are. Arthur Gomes has opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose ball.
Bayern Munich are on the board
It's Benjamin Pavard following an excellent corner kick delivery from Joshua Kimmich.
Son is off for Spurs
Bissouma has come in as the team will now be concerned as they are without arguably their most important attacking player for their biggest match so far this season.
Ajax have doubled their lead
This time it's Kudus as Ajax are flying in the early going ahead 2-0 less than 30 mintues into the match.
Son is being evaluated with a head injury
This could be quite a blow if he's not able to continue for Spurs with them needing a point to advance. Something to watch for sure.
Marseille have already needed to make a change
Eric Bailly was a doubt heading onto the game and won't be able to continue being replaced by Gigot. So far, Marseille are dominating possession but they haven't been able to make it count for anything. It's important to remember that a point is enough for Spurs to advance.
Barcelona have also found the back of the net
While Alonso's goal won't count for much with Europa League already secured, things are much more fun when you're winning matches.
Scenes in France
Ajax strike first with the first goal of the late slate
It's Steven Berghuis with the goal as Ranger's woes in the competition continue.
Marseille vs. Tottenham things to watch
One matchup to watch: Matteo Guendouzi vs. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has the potential to be fascinating in the middle of the park with a French flavor given the Spurs man's origins. Whoever can come out on top of the battle of the midfields could dictate who ultimately manages to win this game. A lot will depend upon both sides' ability to score, but Marseille really need to dominate Tottenham wherever possible to stand a chance.
Most likely to score a goal: It feels likely that Harry Kane scores at some point in this game. The question is whether or not OM can outscore Tottenham -- not if the hosts can shut their visitors out. Chancel Mbemba's dismissal in their first meeting changed the game and Marseille need to channel that sort of defensive solidity here.
Man of the Match pick: Son Heung Min could come up big here given how Marseille will be so focused on needed to go for the jugular. Spurs should be afforded plenty of opportunities to break and the Korean's speed will be vital to capitalizing on those occasions and getting a positive result.
Match prediction: Marseille 1, Tottenham 2. As much as I personally want to see OM advance for the benefit of French soccer in Europe, I feel like this game is dangerous for both sides and could easily go either way. Ultimately, I give Spurs the advantage, but that is mainly down to Marseille's disappointing recent form. The Velodrome atmosphere could be a huge leveling factor, but the home side still have to turn up and put in a huge performance. -- Jonathan Johnson
Marseille vs. Tottenham lineups
Marseille: Lopez, Balerdi, Bailly, Mbemba, Tavares, Veretout, Rongier, Clauss, Harit, Sanchez, Guendouzi
Tottenham: Lloris, Dier, Davies, Lenglet, Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon, Son, Kane, Lucas Moura
Liverpool vs. Napoli things to watch for
One matchup to watch: Darwin Nunez vs. Kim Min-Jae. How Nunez could do with the goals that would jump start his career at Anfield but he will do well to get the better of Napoli's summer signing when it comes to physical duels. Nunez knows how to find shooting opportunities but Kim will harry him into taking them quickly, in those circumstances the Uruguayan can be rather more wasteful than Liverpool might have anticipated when they brought him from Benfica.
Most likely to score a goal: Victor Osimhen. Six goals in four games is a more than adequate return from injury for Osimhen, who posed such troubles for the Liverpool backline in Naples for 40 minutes. Had he been able to continue in that game he would surely have found the net, expect him to pick up where he left off.
Man of the Match pick: Piotr Zielinski. Again we're going back to September for hints as to what will decide this game. Zielinski dominated a Liverpool midfield that looks as leggy now as it did several weeks ago. Only Neymar has created more chances in the Champions League this season than the Pole, who will be out to prove why his opponents have so coveted him in years gone by.
Match prediction: Liverpool 0, Napoli 2. Luciano Spalletti will be aware that this is a real chance for the Partenopei to stamp their mark on European football. As such expect him to name his strongest side and if Liverpool aren't a match for bottom half Premier League teams at the moment why would you expect them to be against the Serie A leaders? -- James Benge
Liverpool vs. Napoli Lineups
Liverpool: Alisson, Tsimikas, Konate, van Dijk, Alexander Arnold, Milner, Fabinho, Thiago, Jones, Firmino, Salah
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Kim, Olivera Miramontes, Ndombele, Lobotka, Anguissa, Kvartaskhelia, Osimehn, Politano
These are certainly win and you're in scenes
Rounding into form just in time
Mehdi Taremi has already scored in the match bringing his Champions League tally to five goals and two assists. That sees him one goal behind Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Boot race. He'll also be leading the line for Iran at the World Cup so this is a forward that the United States will need to be on the lookout for.