Home
Star strikers Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe showcased their scoring prowess in the latest Champions League fixtures, bolstering their respective teams' chances of progressing to the knockout stage.
Haaland, the sensational forward, notched a brace in Manchester City's 3-1 triumph over Young Boys in Group G, while Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to a crucial 3-0 home victory against AC Milan in Group F.
Follow the Sports Tak channel on WhatsApp
Haaland's double was a much-needed contribution to Manchester City's title defense, ending his goal drought in the competition. Despite his recent struggles in the Champions League, Haaland has been in prolific form in the Premier League, with nine goals in as many matches this season. Mbappe, on the other hand, broke his Champions League scoring silence and has also been in fine form in Ligue 1, netting eight goals in eight games.
Manchester City's path to the last 16 now appears clear, with a straightforward task of beating Young Boys once more in the upcoming fixture. Barcelona finds itself in a similar position after securing a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, maintaining a perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
However, PSG is leading a tightly contested Group F, which leaves last season's semifinalist Milan with the prospect of not even qualifying for the Europa League.
In Group E, Feyenoord has positioned itself well to advance in its first appearance in the group stage in six seasons. They defeated Lazio 3-1, with Santiago Gimenez scoring twice and Ramiz Zerrouki adding another. This victory pushed Feyenoord one point ahead of Atlético Madrid, which surprisingly drew 2-2 against Celtic. Lazio sits one point behind Atlético and three ahead of Celtic.
Atlético Madrid had to come from behind twice to secure a draw, with Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata each finding the net. Celtic, however, posed a challenge with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma. Atlético played the final seven minutes with 10 men after midfielder Rodrigo de Paul received a second yellow card.
PSG bounced back emphatically after their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle, taking the top spot in Group F. Kylian Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani scored, with midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery providing two assists, including one for South Korea winger Lee Kang-in.
Borussia Dortmund moved into second place in the group after a 1-0 victory over Newcastle. Felix Nmecha converted a cross from Nico Schlotterbeck in the 45th minute to hand the Saudi-owned English team their first loss in their return to the competition after a 20-year absence. Meanwhile, seven-time champions AC Milan are still seeking their first win and goal in Group F, trailing PSG by four points.
In Group G, Erling Haaland put an end to his five-match Champions League goal drought by scoring twice for Manchester City in their 3-1 win over Young Boys. Haaland's goals came from a penalty and a curling shot, securing his 37th goal in just 33 Champions League appearances. Manuel Akanji had earlier given City the lead, but they conceded shortly after through Meschack Elia. Manchester City now leads the group with nine points, three ahead of second-place Leipzig, who beat Red Star Belgrade 3-1.
Xavi Simons, on loan from PSG, played a pivotal role in Leipzig's victory, assisting David Raum's opening goal and scoring a spectacular goal from outside the box. Dani Olmo added another late goal for Leipzig, while Marko Stamenic scored for Red Star Belgrade.
Group H featured Barcelona's pursuit of advancing to the knockout round. The five-time European champions remained on course with a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, thanks to goals from Ferran Torres and Fermín López. Barcelona's triumph marked a positive step forward, as they aim to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since Lionel Messi's departure in 2021. Porto also played a crucial role in their quest for advancement, securing a 4-1 victory at Antwerp with a second-half hat-trick from substitute Evanilson.
Antwerp, despite taking an early lead, remained without points in the group. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk found themselves six points behind Barcelona in the standings.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Watch: Undefeated Team India receives grand welcome in Lucknow ahead of clash with defending champions England
When will Virat Kohli slam his 50th ODI century and break Sachin Tendulkar's record? Sunil Gavaskar predicts
