It was another frenzied night of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, with the group of death, Group F, delivering once again.
After four matches, just three points—a win, separate the first and fourth-placed teams. Borussia Dortmund completed the double over Newcastle United with a 2-0 win. Niklass Fullkrug scored in the first half, and Julian Brandt scored the second via a fast counterattack in the second half.
But Milan was where the real action was, as goal-shy AC Milan hosted PSG. The Parisians took the lead through former Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, but Rafael Leao replied for Milan almost immediately. Olivier Giroud completed the comeback with a textbook towering header five minutes into the second half.
That win took Milan off the foot of the Group F standings but there is still a lot to play for in the next two rounds. Matchday 5 will see PSG host Newcastle while current leaders Borussia Dortmund travel to Italy to face a resurgent Milan team on 28 November.
In Manchester, Erling Haaland scored a brace to send the defending champions through with a perfect record. Pep Guardiola’s team thus cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games to spare.
This was after a 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100 per cent record and lead Group G with 12 points from four games.
Young Boys, who were reduced to 10 men when Sandro Lauper was shown a red card in the 53rd minute, are fourth in the group with one point.
“Still the job is not done because we have to finish first because it’s better in the last-16 to have the weapon of the second game at home,” Guardiola said.
“But the first step to qualify is done, (and) we scored two fantastic goals.”
Haaland now has 39 Champions UCL goals from 34 appearances and is on course to smash the record for fewest appearances to reach 40 goals, which is 45 games by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The 23-year-old injured his ankle in Saturday’s 6-1 trouncing of Bournemouth in the Premier League, raising questions about whether he would even play on Tuesday.
The one negative on the night was the loss of John Stones, who recently returned from a hip injury but was replaced at halftime after suffering what Guardiola said was a muscle issue.
“He will be awhile out; it’s a pity; it’s bad news for us,” Guardiola told Reuters.
City applied pressure from kickoff and Haaland broke the deadlock with a penalty in the 23rd minute after Lauper’s tackle on Matheus Nunes in the box.
The Norwegian striker pumped a fist in the air after sending goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi the wrong way.
Phil Foden doubled City’s lead seconds before halftime when Jack Grealish spotted him out wide.
The England midfielder cut into the box and beat Racioppi with a low shot.
Haaland’s second goal—and fourth in two games against Young Boys—was a beautiful left-footed rocket from 20 yards out in the 51st minute.
Haaland had traded shirts with Young Boys’ captain Mohamed Ali Camara as they walked off the field at halftime.
He was substituted to a standing ovation from the home crowd a few minutes after his goal.
The score could have been more lopsided, as City had numerous near misses, including Rico Lewis’s attempt that looked destined for the net before Loris Benito cleared it off the line.
Belgian forward Jeremy Doku sent in a pinpoint cross after coming on late in the game, but Nunes could not finish.
“We knew it’s very difficult here to get a point or a win. You need to have the kind of game, the perfect game in every phase of the game,” Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky said.
READ ALSO: EPL Wrap: Haaland’s brace secures City’s away win at Old Trafford
City are unbeaten in their last 17 Champions League games since losing 3-1 away to Real Madrid in the semi-finals in May 2022.
“To qualify with two games to spare, that is what we wanted to do,” Grealish told TNT Sports.
“He (Guardiola) gives us so much. In my opinion, he is the best manager in the world.
“He has shown that over the years. But you can have the best manager in the world; you also need the team.
“And that is what we have—a brilliant team on the pitch, but also off the pitch we have a brilliant team that is so close.
“We love being with each other every day and playing with each other.”
City host RB Leipzig on 28 November and then cap the group stage with a visit to Red Star Belgrade on 13 December.
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