Champions League: Burkinabè Lassina Traoré finds the light

Burkinabè Lassina Traoré scorer with Shakhtar Donetsk against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Getty Images - Cathrin Mueller

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

2 mins

Seriously injured in September 2021, Burkinabe striker Lassina Traoré found his way back to goal with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on September 6, 2022 against RB Leipzig (4-1).

On the other hand, the Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a difficult start with Chelsea, beaten 1-0 by Dinamo Zagreb.

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GROUP E

Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) – Chelsea (England) 1-0

For his debut with Chelsea, the Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubtless dreamed of better.

The center-forward was little illustrated for an hour, with a mask on his face to protect his jaw recently injured during a burglary.

He was then substituted and watched as the Blues lost 1-0.

Londoners who played without their Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

A setback no happier for Aubameyang's partners in defense, the Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly (warned in the 67th minute) and the Franco-Ivorian Wesley Fofana.

Also note that the Moroccan Hakim Ziyech entered at the break.

Without much success.

RB Salzburg (Austria) – AC Milan (Italy) 1-1

Salzburg of Franco-Central African Oumar Solet and AC Milan of Algerian Ismaël Bennacer and Franco-Congolese Pierre Kalulu were neutralized.

GROUP F

Celtic Glasgow (Scotland) – Real Madrid (Spain) 0-3

No African played in this match.

RB Leipzig (Germany) – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 1-4

On September 28, 2021, Lassina Traoré was injured after a terrible shock to the right knee against Inter Milan, in the Champions League.

A year later, the Burkinabè found his way back to the nets in C1.

He closed the Ukrainian club's festival in Germany, scoring from close range.

Party for some, but ordeals for others and especially for Senegalese defender Abdou Diallo, Malian midfielder Amadou Haidara and Franco-Guinean defender Mohamed Simakan.

The latter, however, offered the pleasure of scoring for Leipzig with a flat foot recovery.

GROUP G

Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – FC Copenhagen (Denmark) 3-0

The German-Cameroonian Youssoufa Mouokoko entered shortly after the hour mark and distinguished himself by his activity.

Sevilla FC (Spain) – Manchester City (England) 0-4

Moment of great loneliness for the Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou who went to get the ball in the back of his net four times, without however having much to reproach himself for.

Evening also painful, suddenly, for the young Franco-Ivorian Tanguy Tianzou, holder in Sevillian defense.

On the Manchester City side, Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, who came into play at the end of the game, was the penultimate passer on the Citizens' fourth goal.

GROUP H

Paris Saint-Germain (France) – Juventus Turin (Italy) 2-1

Decisive passer on PSG's second goal, Moroccan side Achraf Hakimi delivered a solid match.

Benfica Lisbon (Portugal) – Maccabi Haifa (Israel) 2-0

Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Seck, Franco-Congolese defender Dylan Batubinsika and Nigerien midfielder Ali Mohamed could not avoid defeat at the Israeli club in Portugal.

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