Sheriff Tiraspol provided a thunderous surprise in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The first Moldovan participant ever won 2-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the first round of play and also tied Real Madrid to the victory cart in the Santiago Bernabéu: 1-2. The winning goal was of great beauty and was scored by Sébastien Thill. Sheriff may also thank goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis for his ten saves.
Athanasiadis has a chance this week for a spot in the Team of the Week, as he made save after save in the Santiago Bernabéu. In the eighteenth minute, Athanasiadis parried a hard free kick by Karim Benzema, taken from just outside the penalty area, and nine minutes before the break, Eden Hazard hit the keeper. Casemiro also tried in vain, while Hazard also made another save from Athanasiadis ten minutes after the break. Halfway through the second half, the Greek also turned a shot from Vinícius Júnior into the short corner.
THIS IS NOT NORMAL ?? Sheriff beats the great Real with this great goal in the final phase and takes the lead in Group D ?? What a bizarre story is this turning into??#ZiggoSport #UCL #RMASHE pic.twitter.com/wmf05nomnJ
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 28, 2021
In the final phase of the match, Luka Modric and Éder Militao also proved unable to outwit the outstanding goalkeeper. Athanasiadis saved with his head on a shot by Modric after a nice combination with Benzema, while Militão’s effort was stopped with some tricks. Rodrygo then shot over. There was one moment when Athanasiadis had to give in: in minute 63 Real Madrid received a penalty after light contact between Fernando Costanza and Vinicius. The penalty was convincingly used by Benzema.
The Frenchman became the first player to score in 17 different Champions League seasons, although Lionel Messi followed shortly after with his goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester City. Benzema took care of the 1-1 with the striking penalty; by minute 25, Sheriff had taken the lead. Cristiano received the ball from midfield and sent a measured cross to Jasur Jakhshibaev, who headed in contrary. Eighteen minutes before the end, a goal by Sheriff was disallowed for offside, but a great blast from Thill in minute ninety made it 1-2. In stoppage time, a deflected shot by Federico Valverde hit the post.