PARIS, Oct 20: Lionel Messi scored twice in quick succession, including an exquisite Panenka-style penalty, to rescue Paris Saint-Germain as it rallied to beat Leipzig 3-2 in the Champions League after being dominated for long spells on Tuesday.
Messi equalized in the 67th minute, poking home from close range after goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi tipped his first shot onto the post. He then sent Gulacsi diving to the left before dinking the ball softly down the middle for his third goal since joining PSG from Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe set up the first two and also winning the penalty for Messi’s winner against Leipzig in the 74th minute.
Mbappe pointed straight at Messi to tell him he could take the spot kick. “It’s normal, it’s about respect,” Mbappe said. “He’s the best player in the world. I’ve always said it’s a privilege to play with him.”
It was the 34th time that Messi scored at least two goals in a Champions League game, bringing the Argentina captain’s total to 123 goals in the tournament. He remains second to longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo on 137.
Mbappe then took a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time, awarded following a video review for a foul on right back Achraf Hakimi, but he blazed it well over.
PSG is atop Group A with seven points, one more than Manchester City. Leipzig is last with no points.
Mbappe opened the scoring with a ninth-minute goal.
Striker Andre Silva equalized in the 28th and midfielder Nordi Mukiele volleyed in powerfully in the 57th, with left back Angelino setting up both with his left foot.
Man City vs Club Brugge
Manchester City put on a dominant display of slick passing and movement to rout Club Brugge 5-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League.
City has six points from three games, two more than Brugge, which slumped to its first Group A defeat. PSG was playing last-place Leipzig in the group’s other match Tuesday.
City pressed hard up the pitch at Jan Breydel stadium and was rewarded with first-half goals from Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez.
Kyle Walker, substitute Cole Palmer – on his tournament debut – and Mahrez with his second of the night completed the scoring after the interval.
Atlético vs Liverpool
After a frustrating end to Antoine Griezmann’s night with Atlético Madrid, Mohamed Salah came through for Liverpool in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday.
Salah scored twice as Liverpool took advantage of Griezmann’s red card to beat Atlético 3-2 and stay perfect after three matches.
Griezmann had already scored twice to help Atlético recover from a poor start, but then he was sent off with a straight red card early in the second half for hitting Roberto Firmino’s head with his foot while trying to reach for the ball.
Liverpool capitalized on the advantage with Salah scoring the winner from a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Naby Keita also scored for Liverpool in the first half as Liverpool took a 2-0 lead as early as the 13th minute at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
The result left Liverpool at the top of Group B with nine points from three matches, five points more than Atlético.
Porto vs AC Milan
Unbeaten in Serie A, AC Milan can’t find a way to win in the Champions League.
Making their first group-phase appearance in eight years, the Rossoneri were beaten 1-0 at Porto in Group B for their third straight defeat in the competition.
Luis Díaz scored from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 65th minute.
Ajax vs Dortmund
Ajax surged past Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on Tuesday to take a big step toward advancing to the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since the Dutch club reached the semifinals three seasons ago.
Ajax needed just 11 minutes to take the lead through Marco Reus’ deflection and went down as an own-goal.
Daley Blind made it 2-0 before the hosts scored a third in the 57th when Brazilian winger Antony cut in from the right flank past the slow-to-react Emre Can and curled the ball inside the far post.
The fourth goal came soon after when Sebastien Haller headed it in. (AP)
