United miss chance to progress to knockouts
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal. Olivier Giroud put on a four-goal masterclass. But Neymar got the ones that mattered most to leave Manchester United facing a possible Champions League exit.
Neymar scored early and late at Old Trafford as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 in the latest bout of a fierce Champions League rivalry to take control in Group H.
United were left to regret not substituting midfielder Fred, who seemed lucky not to be sent off in the first half after head-butting PSG’s Leandro Paredes. Fred finally saw a red card in the 70th minute just as United tried to come back from PSG taking a 2-1 lead through another Brazilian, Marquinhos.
PSG and United are joined on nine points by Leipzig, who got a stoppage-time winning goal to beat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-3 in a thrilling game. United have perhaps the toughest task in the final games next Thursday, travelling to Leipzig while PSG host Basaksehir.
Borussia Dortmund were the only team to advance yesterday, drawing 1-1 at home with Lazio to become the ninth team in the round of 16.
Juventus were already safely into the next round before Ronaldo marked his 750th goal for his clubs and Portugal. It was a simple tap-in at the far post in a 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv.
Chelsea and Sevilla had also advanced before Giroud tore apart the Spanish side on home turf. The France forward’s perfectly balanced quadruple came from shots with his right and left feet, a header and then from the penalty spot.
Like Real Madrid a day earlier, Man United lost to leave themselves a tense last-round challenge just to qualify for the knockout stage in February. United recovered well from Neymar’s sixth-minute opener and levelled before halftime from Marcus Rashford’s deflected shot before coming out strong in the second half.
But a chipped shot by Edinson Cavani, PSG’s record goalscorer who joined United this season, came back off the crossbar and Anthony Martial skied a clear chance minutes later.
PSG then deservedly retook the lead and after Fred’s dismissal, a third goal looked likely even before Neymar rolled the ball into an unguarded goal in stoppage time.
Leipzig’s late goal in Istanbul changed the calculations. Substitute Alexander So¨rloth struck just minutes after the ball had rebounded off his face to hit the crossbar of Basaksehir’s goal.
In the most lopsided group, Barcelona were able to rest Lionel Messi against Ferencvaros and still score all their goals in the first half hour in a 3-0 win.
The most significant detail of Juve’s routine 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv was the history made by the referee.
Stephanie Frappart of France became the first woman to referee a men’s Champions League match.
Barcelona have five straight wins and lead Juve by three points.
Group winners are seeded in the last-16 draw and play the second leg at home.