Paris Saint-Germain pushed Manchester Metropolis to the brink of Champions League elimination after coming from two targets right down to win 4-2 on Wednesday, whereas Arsenal all however secured their place within the final 16.
Holders Actual Madrid stay in rivalry for a top-eight spot after sweeping apart Crimson Bull Salzburg 5-1, however Bayern Munich’s hopes of automated qualification took a success with a 3-0 defeat by Feyenoord.
Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis had been left surprised as they blew a two-goal lead after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck early within the second half in pouring rain on the Parc des Princes.
Substitute Ousmane Dembele quickly halved the deficit for PSG and Bradley Barcola equalised on the hour after Need Doue’s effort got here again off the crossbar.
Joao Neves’ diving header put PSG on high earlier than Goncalo Ramos added a late fourth because the French champions climbed from twenty sixth within the desk to twenty second and bumped Metropolis out of the qualifying spots for the knockout part.
“I do not know the way we did it, to be sincere,” PSG coach Luis Enrique instructed Canal Plus.
“We began the second half within the worst method doable by conceding two targets. It was difficult at that time, however on the identical time this group believes in itself.”
Metropolis, the European champions in 2023, are down in twenty fifth having didn’t win any of their final 4 video games within the competitors and should beat Membership Brugge at dwelling subsequent week to salvage their marketing campaign.
“I settle for the defeat as a result of the most effective group received,” mentioned Guardiola.
“It is in our palms, now we have to win the final sport,” he added. “Hopefully we will qualify. If it would not occur, we do not deserve it.”
Arsenal are on the verge of the final 16 as targets from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed a 3-0 dwelling win over Dinamo Zagreb — their fifth victory in seven video games in Europe.
“It is a huge step. We’re very near reaching the aim we had earlier than the group stage began,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta instructed TNT Sports activities.
The Gunners, who go to Girona of their last sport within the league part, are third within the 36-team desk and three factors away from ninth-placed Aston Villa with a far superior aim distinction.
– Madrid canter as Bayern falter –
Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior each struck twice, with Kylian Mbappe additionally on track as Madrid thumped Salzburg to maneuver as much as sixteenth, however only a level again from eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
“We have been by way of troublesome moments we did not need to,” mentioned Rodrygo.
“However this victory within the Champions League, that we wanted, will give us loads of confidence to maintain going now with the massive challenges forward of us.”
The report 15-time European champions are simply behind Bayern Munich after the German giants got here unstuck in Rotterdam.
Santiago Gimenez scored two targets, together with a penalty, within the first half earlier than Ayase Ueda’s late aim accomplished an excellent show from Feyenoord, who might additionally nonetheless end within the high eight.
Inter Milan look assured to achieve the final 16 after their 1-0 win away to Sparta Prague courtesy of Lautaro Martinez’s volley.
The Italian champions are fourth on 16 factors, stage with Arsenal, and one above metropolis rivals AC Milan.
Rafael Leao’s first-half strike was sufficient to earn Milan a 1-0 win that additionally eradicated Girona.
Celtic superior to the Champions League knockout stage for the primary time in 12 years after inflicting a seventh successive defeat on Younger Boys, with Loris Benito’s 86th-minute personal aim handing the Hoops a 1-0 win in Glasgow.
“It is a little bit little bit of historical past created, we have not been within the knockout phases for a very long time. For the supporters it is an incredible night time,” mentioned Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
French membership Brest noticed their bid for an automated spot within the final 16 dented by a 2-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Germany.
Sporting Lisbon suffered a 3rd straight defeat as beforehand pointless RB Leipzig received 2-1 with targets from Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen.
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