Braked in Leipzig (2-2), Paris SG on Wednesday missed the opportunity to get closer to the knockout stages of the Champions League, during an auspicious evening for Liverpool and Ajax, qualified, and historic for Karim Benzema , author of the thousandth goal for Real Madrid in C1.
PSG stumbles
Still no certainties in the game, and a disappointing result in the absence of Lionel Messi, injured: PSG, jostled at the start of the match and then feverish at the end of the game, conceded a draw in additional time on the lawn of the RB Leipzig, while Mauricio Pochettino’s team could almost validate their qualification.
With 8 points in four games, PSG abandons the lead of its group in Manchester City (1st, 9 pts), which unfolded (4-1) against Club Bruges (3rd, 4 pts).
Qualification, Paris will have to go get it in an enticing “final” for first place, synonymous with a priori more affordable draw in the eighth, during a burning trip to Manchester on November 24 where it will be necessary to avoid the fears observed against Leipzig Wednesday evening.
Quickly led on a goal by former Parisian Christopher Nkunku (8th), Paris was saved by its goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who deflected a penalty hit by André Silva (10th).
After several inexplicable failures of Kylian Mbappé in the finish (45th + 2, 52nd, 64th), the two providential goals of Georginio Wijnaldum (21st, 40th) were not enough for the Parisians, joined at the very end of the match on a penalty caused by Presnel Kimpembe, and transformed by Dominik Szoboszlai (90th + 2). Raging for Paris, even if nothing is lost …
Liverpool qualified, Milan frustrated
Liverpool are already in the eighth of this C1 and it is only fair as Jürgen Klopp’s team (12 pts) dominates their group, like their controlled success (2-0) on Wednesday night against Atlético in Anfield.
The goals of Diogo Jota (13th) and Sadio Mané (21st) were enough for the happiness of the Reds, whose task was made easier by the exclusion of Madrid defender Felipe (36th).
Conversely, things get complicated for Atlético (4 pts), now third behind FC Porto (5 pts) before the last two days.
Fortunately for the colchonero club, the other meeting of the evening saw its competitors for the qualification neutralize themselves. AC Milan (1 pt), back in C1 after a long absence, could not do better than a 1-1 draw against Porto.
Haller sends Ajax in 8th
Stunning Ajax! Long behind in Dortmund, the Amsterdam team won 3-1 on the lawn of BVB, with in particular a decisive new goal from Franco-Ivorian center forward Sébastien Haller, his 7th in the competition.
The Dutch club (12 pts), author of a clear round on the first four days, was well helped Wednesday by the early exclusion of German defender Mats Hummels, guilty of a tackle a little too committed (29th).
The second qualifying place should therefore be played between Dortmund (6 pts), still deprived of its striker Erling Braut Haaland due to injury, and Sporting Portugal (6 pts), wide winner of Besiktas 4-0.
Historic Benzema, the Sheriff stalls
And here is Karim Benzema a little more in the history of Real Madrid: the French center forward scored against Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1) the 1000th and 1001st goals in the European queen event of the “White House”, first club to reach this symbolic bar.
Whistled by the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium for a guilty release in the first period, Real has again relied on Benzema, left under the ovation of the public and replaced as a precaution after feeling a pain in the groin.
“Proud of my team, I will continue to write the history of my club”, reacted Benzema on Twitter.
The club with 13 coronations in C1 took the opportunity to settle alone at the top of its group with 9 points, approaching the round of 16 and overtaking the modest Sheriff Tiraspol (6 pts), who fell into line against Inter Milan ( 7 pts) Wednesday evening (3-1).
