PSG 1-0 Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe’s late strike hands Parisians slender Champions League advantage, Match report as PSG beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie; Lionel Messi had earlier seen his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois; the return leg is in Madrid on March 9. Kylian Mbappe’s injury-time strike saw PSG beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Parc des Princes.
PSG had appeared to be heading for a frustrating goalless draw in the French capital after Lionel Messi saw his 62nd-minute penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The visitors’ giant Belgian goalkeeper guessed correctly and dived low to his left to turn Messi’s spot-kick behind for a corner in what looked like being the pivotal moment of the tie.
All this after Mauricio Pochettino’s side had dominated most of the clash, only for Mbappe to twice be denied by excellent Courtois stops in each half, before Messi was given the chance to break the deadlock from the spot after Dani Carvajal had foolishly lunged in on Mbappe in the box.
Both managers brought on a raft of substitutes in an effort to break the deadlock, with the hosts seeing the return of Neymar after a four-month layoff with an ankle injury, while Real introduced Wales forward Gareth Bale, but with little effect.
That was until the fourth and final minute of stoppage time when Neymar’s cheeky back-heel released Mbappe down the left side of the area and within the blink of an eye the striker’s quick feet saw him one on one with Courtois.
The angle was tight, but Mbappe – who has been consistently linked with a move to Real this summer – kept his cool to side-foot home through Courtois’s legs for his 22nd goal of the season to hand PSG a slender advantage heading into the return leg in Madrid on March 9.
While Sporting Lisbon 0-5 Manchester City: Follow live reaction after City put one foot in the quarter-finals with a big first-leg win
Follow live reaction from the Champions League after Manchester City cruised to an away victory at Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
City, who are again favourites to win the Champions League title, made a perfect start in Portugal as Riyad Mahrez steered the Premier League side ahead after eight minutes.
The goal was given after a lengthy VAR check, with the opener being initially disallowed due to an offside in the build-up, but it was finally awarded to give Mahrez a ninth goal in as many games.
City doubled their lead on 17 minutes as Bernardo Silva guided a stunning half-volley off the underside of the crossbar from a corner to put the visitors in full control of the tie.
Phil Foden put City three up on 32 minutes as the visitors continued to dominate, with Bernardo adding City’s fourth shortly before half-time.
Bernardo had a header disallowed for offside after the break as he was denied a hat-trick, but Raheem Sterling added their fifth with a sublime shot into the top corner.
So Manchester City are in pole position to go through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
They have thrown down the gauntlet with a ruthless 5-0 drubbing of Sporting Lisbon. The English club were favourites before the match but they will be most fans’ predicted winners after that stunning display.
Sporting travel to Manchester to attempt to get back into it.
To re-visit all the action with some slick analysis thrown in, have a read of our report of the last 16 tie.
