PSG, Madrid poised for semifinal berths
Around 100 fans riot in Paris before kickoff of Champions League match
PARIS — With first-leg victories, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are in good position to reach the Champions League semifinals.
PSG took advantage of Chelsea’s sloppy defending in a 3-1 win Wednesday night as substitute Javier Pastore scored a brilliant late goal on a solo run. Madrid won 3-0 at home against Borussia Dortmund as Cristiano Ronaldo got his record-tying 14th goal of this season’s competition.
Ezequiel Lavezzi put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute following a poorly headed clearance by Chelsea captain John Terry. Eden Hazard’s penalty kick tied the score in the 27th after Thiago Silva pulled down Oscar, but PSG went back in front in the 61st when Lavezzi’s free kick from a flank ricocheted off David Luiz’s shin and into the net.
“When the games are tight and when you make the defensive mistakes, you are in trouble,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. “We couldn’t transform these halfchances into goals. And, on top of that, we made defensive mistakes, the kind of individual defensive mistakes, and we paid the price.”
Pastore scored in injury time, gathering the ball on a wing, cutting inside, manoeuvring through the penalty area and beating goalkeeper Petr Cech with a low shot.
“It’s not a goal, it’s a joke,” said Mourinho, who also criticized his forwards. “It’s difficult for us to score goals. I’m not happy with my strikers’ performances and I have to try things.”
PSG has not reached the semifinals since 1995. Paris star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic limped off in the 68th with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
“He wanted to carry on but it wasn’t sensible,” PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. “He will probably be out for a while.”
Chelsea and PSG fans fought in a city centre street about two hours before kickoff. The conflict involved around 100 people, indicating that it was most likely prearranged, PSG security director Jean-Philippe d’Halliville told The Associated Press.
In Madrid, Ronaldo scored his 45th goal overall this season in the 57th minute, then left in the 80th with what appeared to be a leg injury. Playing in his 100th Champions League game, Ronaldo scored when he took a pass from Luka Modric and rounded goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. Ronaldo matched the Champion Clubs’ Cup/Champions League mark shared by AC Milan’s Jose Altafini (196263) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (2011-12).
“Ronaldo has a problem with his knee, but at this moment I’m not worried about it,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Seeking its fourth straight semifinal appearance and record 10th title in Europe’s top club competition, Real built its lead on goals by Gareth Bale in the third minute and Isco in the 27th.
Dortmund was missing suspended forward Robert Lewandowski and five injured regulars. It fielded just four of the players from last year’s 4-1 win over Real in the first leg of the semifinals.