Andre Onana’s last-gasp penalty save on Tuesday secured a vital UEFA Champions League win for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen, while Jude Bellingham scored again for Real Madrid in their victory over Braga.
Elsewhere, Arsenal beat Sevilla in the rain in Spain and Harry Kane was on target as Bayern Munich won a tough assignment against Galatasaray SK.
Before kickoff at Old Trafford, United held a minute’s silence in memory of Bobby Charlton after the Red Devils legend died on Saturday at the age of 86.
photo: AFP
They marked the occasion by claiming their first points in Group A as Harry Maguire’s 72nd-minute header secured a 1-0 win.
The result keeps alive their chances of advancing to the last 16, but they needed Onana to produce a brilliant save from Jordan Larsson’s 97th-minute penalty to see the game out.
“It is incredible and a great night. Especially in the dying second when you concede a penalty, but a brilliant save from Andre Onana,” coach Erik ten Hag told broadcaster TNT Sports.
United are now back in contention to qualify, but Bayern look set to run away with the group after making it three wins out of three with a 3-1 victory in Istanbul.
Bayern have won 16 consecutive matches in the group phase and have not lost at this stage in more than six years.
“I don’t know how many group stage matches I’ve done as a coach, but it’s always super difficult — so it’s great to find ourselves with nine points after three matches,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said.
Madrid, the record 14-time European champions, also have three wins out of three in Group C after Rodrygo and Bellingham scored in a 2-1 victory over Braga in Portugal.
Napoli are second in the group after a 1-0 win at Union Berlin, who are still without a point.
In Group B, Arsenal bounced back from losing 2-1 to Lens in France in their last game as they beat Sevilla by the same scoreline on a sodden surface at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
Gabriel Martinelli ran clear to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time and a fantastic strike by Gabriel Jesus made it two.
Nemanja Gudelj pulled one back for Sevilla, but last season’s Europa League winners have won just twice in 13 games in this campaign.
“There are not many teams to have won here in the last 10 years in Europe and we’ve done it,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.
Lens are second, a point behind Arsenal.
Last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan are joint top of Group D with seven points after defeating Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 at San Siro.
Real Sociedad are level with Inter thanks to a 1-0 win over SL Benfica in Lisbon secured by a Brais Mendez goal.
Benfica are still without a point and staring at an early exit.
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