Mbappé Hat Trick Propels Real Madrid to Champions League Win, Dumps Man City Out
Mbappé’s Masterpiece
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick, Erling Haaland stayed on the bench injured and Real Madrid dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Mbappé’s stellar trio of goals in the fourth, 33rd, and 61st minutes in a 3-1 win gave Madrid a 6-3 victory on aggregate over the 2023 champion in their two-leg knockout playoff.
“This has been the complete performance — attack, defense, with the ball and without the ball, we showed such high levels of quality,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “Almost the perfect night.”
Haaland Misses Out
One superstar striker was watched by another from the sidelines. Haaland was not fit to start for an ultimately overmatched Man City because of a knee injury sustained late in a Premier League game Saturday.
Paris Saint-Germain Dominates Brest
Paris Saint-Germain beat French rival Brest 7-0, to run up a 10-0 aggregate score, and will play either Liverpool or Barcelona in the round of 16.
PSV Eindhoven Edges Juventus
PSV Eindhoven ousted Juventus in the only one of the eight playoffs this week that went to extra time. Defender Ryan Flamingo scored in the 98th minute for a 3-1 win on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. United States international Timothy Weah scored for Juventus.
Borussia Dortmund Advances
In the early game, Borussia Dortmund started with a 3-0 lead at home to Sporting Lisbon and was barely stretched in a 0-0 draw. Sporting’s Champions League campaign imploded after coach Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United in November.
Conclusion
Real Madrid’s victory sets up a tantalizing round of 16 draw, with the club potentially facing off against Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain will look to continue its dominance, and PSV Eindhoven will seek to build on its playoff success. The road to the Champions League title is far from over, but these teams have already made their mark.
FAQs
* Who scored the hat trick for Real Madrid?
– Kylian Mbappé
* Why was Erling Haaland absent for Manchester City?
– He sustained a knee injury
* Which teams advanced to the round of 16?
– Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, and Borussia Dortmund
* Who will Real Madrid potentially face in the round of 16?
– Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
