hello wherever you happen to be welcome to caledonia welcome to barcelona
i'm derek ray joined by lee dixon in the commentary position
and this is where it all starts in the uefa champions league the group stage and match day
one my goodness so much to look forward to it's barcelona up against bayern munich well derek i
hope you are as excited as me to start of the champions league always a special atmosphere
but to go on and repeat that success is really really difficult but they are a massive club big
expectations top players they need a bit of luck along the way they certainly had some of that last
season but you expect them to go deep into this competition can they go all the way though and
the barcelona shape looks like this if you like wingers you'll love this league yeah absolutely
i love to watch a winger play especially with pace and power the central strike will stay more
or less in front of the goal the support will be provided by the three central midfield players
the back four is pretty conventional but full bats will be asked to support from behind
here's the initial 11-4 buy-in the highly regarded manuel neuer starts in goal
nicholas zulu starts with dalio ipamicano in central defence
and rather than use a strike partnership they've gone with just the one player in attack
pk
now with messi dest aguero di
sergio aguero has it rodrigo javier de paul aguero can they find a gap in the defense the power
on the ball with alfonso davies goretzka
thomas has it untidy in possession
looking for the goal that would put them ahead oh he's given the ball away
and a throw in forthcoming
so the young
oh tremendous goal technical excellence to finish that one off
wonderful to have those in your repertoire
well here's the replay and it all starts with the delivery into the box just begging
for someone to get on the end of it and it's all about the time he allows himself
by being patient waiting for the ball to drop and then volleying with such precision
so the game has restarted and it's barcelona in front
in possession
ting slip short passing
space on the flank now he must favor the cross
frankie deyoung soul really getting stuck in defensively
it's a corner
and played in by kimmy and held with ease by to stegan
lionel messi
onto the power now the attacking options appear plentiful
now with kimmy measured pass intended for zane
one goal down but now a corner kick
over it comes punched away
well the first 45 minutes have come and gone here in catalonia
i think most fans would be pretty happy with this man's display so far
well derek is certainly was a good 45 minutes from the lad
obviously got the goal to give him the lead but he's looked very very lively as well
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
thomas spuder goretzka has it now
really frankie deyoung excellent vision just too close to the goalkeeper at the
end wasn't it yeah poor technique really and goalkeeper's not troubled
possession however after that the coach will be disappointed with what they produced
they need to be a little bit more clinical in front of goal
see you alert
on the ball with alfonso davies
thomas and we're inside the final 30 minutes
not attacking possibilities
and with that the attack fizzles out aguero
well that's how to hit them not quite accurate enough though
alfonso davies
thomas kimmy we're now inside the final 20 minutes of the game alert defending
aguero and the ball is in the net and that is not going to count the decision is
offside lee well it's good decision from the assistant referee spot on there
luna promoting
imagine strongly to win the ball
aguero with the noses in front in the second half what will be the thinking in the cat lee dixon
with a narrow lead and the clock ticking takes it on and a goal he's done it aguero
well he scores all types of goals he really does there's nothing he can't do
well here's the replay and what a ball that is to put him through and he chooses to use power in the
finish not a nice chance for the keeper when he's hit that hard let's have another view of that goal
it's going their way two-nil
might be able to get in behind the defense alfonzo davies is mueller now he must favor the cross
it had an invitation attached but he couldn't avail himself of the opportunity
well just look at him he thinks he's in just wide deyong aguero the pie
now jordi alba
chance to play us in an effective clearance
the referee has decided that two additional minutes are in order thomas smith
well that's all for this game and barcelona off to a flying start three points from their initial
match in the champions league well it's everything you want from the start of match one good
strong start that result will give everybody confidence especially the players well done
a lot to like about sergio aguero's performance lee your verdict well that was a really really
good performance from the lad and a goal to boot really delighted with that goal i'm sure he is