Kylian Mbappe scored for PSG in a 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Champions League; Juventus on the verge of elimination after a 2-0 loss in Maccabi Haifa
Kylian Mbappe scored for PSG in a 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Champions League; Juventus on the verge of elimination after a 2-0 loss in Maccabi Haifa
Happy or not, Kylian Mbappe continues to score goals for Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester City, meanwhile, is not the same without Erling Haaland.
Still, City – despite a 0-0 draw at FC Copenhagen – joined holders Real Madrid on Tuesday as the first teams to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
On the same day that reports emerged that Mbappe was disappointed at PSG and wanted to leave during the January transfer window, the France striker converted a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Benfica.
It was Mbappe’s record 31st goal for PSG in the competition, surpassing Edison Cavani for the club record.
Mbappé was close to joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer but eventually agreed to stay at PSG for two more years with the option of an additional season.
The 23-year-old Frenchman celebrated his latest goal by spreading his arms and running towards the stands of the Parc de Princes – with no outward sign of discontent.
Mbappé also had an acrobatic ability, the winner was later removed by VAR, leveling PSG with Benfica at the top of Group H.
Manchester City stopped
With the rest of Haaland, 10-man City were held to a 0–0 draw at FC Copenhagen, a team in the bottom half of the Danish league.
Copenhagen became the first team to prevent City from scoring this season in a match that was influenced by early video-review decisions.
One of those VAR calls resulted in a red card in the 30th minute for City left back Sergio Gómez to pull back Haakon Arnar Haraldsson as the last man, hurting the visitors attacking ambitions at the atmospheric Parken Stadium.
Nevertheless, City lead Group G with 10 points, followed by Borussia Dortmund (7), Sevilla (2) and Copenhagen (2).
Like Madrid, City have advanced to the group stage with two rounds of matches.
Bellingham’s continuation with Dortmund
At 19, England midfielder Jude Bellingham has scored in all four of Dortmund’s Champions League games this season.
Young players took center stage as Sevilla took the lead with a header from 20-year-old defender Tanguy Nianzo before Bellingham drew 1-1 at Thomas Meunier’s low cross.
Only Haaland (5 goals) and Mbappe (4) have scored more Champions League goals this season.
Bellingham became the highest scorer in a single Champions League season by an English teenager, beating Wayne Rooney’s record of three goals in 2004–05.
Rudiger to Madrid’s defense
Antonio Rudiger’s face was covered in blood as he scored a stoppage-time equalizer for Madrid in a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
In addition, Timo Werner scored his first Champions League goal after returning to Leipzig to help Celtic win 2–0.
Madrid lead Group F with 10 points, followed by Leipzig (6), Shakhtar (5) and Celtic (1).
Chelsea beat Milan again
Chelsea were bottom of Group E but two straight victories over Serie A champions AC Milan have seen it take pole position to progress to the Round of 16.
Chelsea climbed to the top of the group with a 2–0 win in Milan, having played most of the match with 10 men in the 18th minute after former Blues defender Fikayo Tomori was dismissed on a penalty.
Jorginho converted a spot kick and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 34th.
Chelsea went one point above Salzburg, who drew 1–1 at Dinamo Zagreb in their second Group E match. Milan and Dinamo are three points below Chelsea.
Juventus in trouble after Maccabi defeat
Juventus were further down in trouble and Maccabi were left on the verge of a Champions League exit after a 2–0 loss at Haifa, which also included an injury to leading winger Angel Di Maria.
Omar Atzili scored two goals in the first half as Haifa secured their first Champions League victory in two decades.
Juventus were third in Group H behind PSG and Benfica with two games to go.