Olivier Giroud still got it! Man City and Ciro Immobile reach milestone

Olivier Giroud still got it! On Tuesday, the Frenchman scored the winner for Milan in a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in what was a must-win game in Group F. Giroud’s 24th goal in his 62nd Champions League game was also historic. Aged 37 years 1 month, and 8 days, Giroud is now the oldest scorer during the Champions League era, passing Laurent Blanc (36 years, 11 months, and 4 days). If you, however, include the old European Cup, the record belongs to Henri Skiba, who scored in FC La Chaux-de-Fonds 2-1 win over AS Saint-Étienne Sep. 15, 1964. 

Giroud, however, has some way to go to become the competition’s oldest scorer. That record now belongs to Porto’s Pepe. Pepe scored in Porto’s 2-0 win over Royal Antwerp and, at 40 years 8 months, and 12 months, is the oldest scorer in history. When one just counts the Champions League era, Francesco Totti, who last found the net in November 2014, aged 38 years and one month and 8 days during a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow, held the record. Pepe, however, also holds the record if one includes the old European Cup, where the Norwegian Willy Olsen held the record as he scored aged 39 years, 7 months, and 6 days in Fredrikstad FK’s 4-3 win over Ajax Amsterdam on Aug. 30, 1960. 

Speaking of goalscorers. In Italy, Ciro Immobile secured Lazio three crucial points by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Feyenoord. After losing the return, that goal not only put Lazio on top of Feyenoord to second place in Group E, but it was also Immobile’s 200th goal in just 310 appearances for the Serie A side. Immobile, therefore, further builds on the record that firmly places him in first place among Lazio’s all-time goalscorers.

Manchester City reach milestone - close in on Europe’s elite 

A brace by Erling Haaland and a goal by Phil Foden secured Manchester City a 3-0 win over Swiss side Young Boys and a spot in the knockout stage with two games to go. The three goals also meant that Man City have now scored 250 goals, becoming just the 12th team to reach that milestone. According to Opta, they were the fastest team to get there, needing just 119 games. A glimpse at the all-time Champions League standings on Transfermarkt, which also include the old European Cup, reveals that Man City are 18th in the standings with a +117 that ranks them ninth overall with just 121 games played overall.