Mbappe shines in PSG victory
BERLIN: Titleholder Bayern Munich is on the verge of elimination from the Champions League after Kylian Mbappe’s double gave Paris SaintGermain a thrilling 32 victory in the first leg of their quarterfinal yesterday.
Mbappe struck the opener and the winner on counterattacks against a woeful Bayern defence and PSG captain Marquinhos made it 20 midway through the first half.
Bayern carved out plenty of chances but was profligate without injured star Robert Lewandowski. His deputy, Eric Maxim ChoupoMoting, cut the deficit with a header and Thomas Mueller levelled but Bayern’s weakness at either end has left it with an uphill task going into next week’s return in Paris.
Lewandowski will not be available for that game as he recovers from a knee injury. PSG will hope to finish the job for an element of revenge after losing to Bayern in the final of last year’s tournament.
A brilliant goal from Mason Mount and another from Ben Chilwell gave Chelsea a 20 win ‘‘away’’ over Porto in a game which Covid19 restrictions resulted in being moved to Sevilla, which also hosts the return next week.
‘‘We had a lot of hard work to do because the way they play is dangerous, with or without Lewandowski,’’ PSG’s German midfielder, Julian Draxler said, adding Mbappe ‘‘has quality like noone else in the world’’.
‘‘We need his speed. At the moment, he has chances and he scores. That’s really important for us, especially against this Bayern side.’’
Thomas Tuchel coached PSG last season but now manages Chelsea after being sacked by the Lique 1 side at Christmas and he is also on course for a return to the semifinals.
Mount spun away from his marker and found the bottom corner in the 32nd minute to give Chelsea a lead against the run of play.
‘‘It was about time it came,’’ England’s Mount told BT Sport of his first Champions League goal. ‘‘I’m always working on my finishing; it’s a part of my game I can improve on.’’
Porto faded as the game went on and Chilwell rounded keeper Agustin Marchesin for a late second shortly after Christian Pulisic thumped the bar.
The victory eased Chelsea’s concerns after a spectacular 52 home defeat by English Premier League struggler West Brom at the weekend.