From Lozano to Hleb: Four things we learned from the Champions League play-off games

The 2018-19 Champions League qualification process continued tonight with the start of the play-off round. 

Tonight’s first leg ties saw PSV Eindhoven travel to Ukraine and gain a credible 3-2 win over BATE Borisov, while Benfica floundered to a 1-1 draw against PAOK from Greece. Red Bull Salzburg made the trip to Serbia to play 1991 European Champions Red Star Belgrade in a game behind closed doors that finished 0-0.

Here are four things Squawka noticed from tonight’s first leg ties.

 

1. PSV in a strong position despite poor showing in Ukraine

1988 European champions PSV Eindhoven got to a poor start against BATE Borisov in Ukraine.

They struggled to really assert themselves in the game early on and went 1-0 down to a Jasse Tuominen strike in the ninth minute. They continued to toil until they received a very lucky penalty in the 35th minute and only managed to get a foothold over the Ukrainian side when they converted the spot-kick.

However, that kick-started their performance in the tie and they took the lead in the 65th minute. BATE fought back to 2-2 late on, but PSV made a quick reply through Donyell Malen and now take a very healthy 3-2 lead back to Holland – three away goals are particularly valuable.

2. Cheers to Chucky

Hirving Lozano has had an eventful year since joining PSV at the start of last season.

The flying winger scored 19 goals in 34 games across all competitions last season as PSV secured the Eredivisie title before scoring the winning goal in Mexico’s famous 1-0 win over Germany at the World Cup.

And ‘Chucky’, as he is known to his friends, was at it again tonight scoring PSV’s second goal.

Moments after going down in the area and being denied a penalty, Lozano picked up the ball on the edge of the BATE box and curled it into the bottom left corner of Denis Scherbitski’s goal. The Belarus international was unfortunate to be on the end of such a quality strike having already made a top-class save to deny Luuk De Jong in the first half. However, when you come up against someone with the mercurial talents of Hirving Lozano, anything can happen.

3. Where are the fans?

Red Star Belgrade’s 0-0 draw at home was anything but an exciting affair – the two sides could only muster four shots on target between them in the entire game.

With that in mind, the main talking point from the game was the fact that it was played in front of approximately… nobody.

Red Star Belgrade are currently on the end of a UEFA punishment for racist chants from their fans against Sk Suduva in the last round, meaning they had to play tonight’s game behind closed doors.

A game that lacked any kind of energy on the pitch was compounded by an eerie silence from the stands.

4. Alexander Hleb is still playing football

Seven years and six clubs after last featuring in English football for Birmingham City in 2011, many fans will be surprised to know that Alexander Hleb is still a professional footballer.

The 37-year-old is now plying his trade in Ukraine for BATE Borisov and even scored their second goal as they went down 3-2 at home to PSV.

That was Hleb’s eighth goal in 95 continental games, showing there is still life in the old dog yet.

The post From Lozano to Hleb: Four things we learned from the Champions League play-off games appeared first on Squawka News.

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