Haaland breaks drought in City win, PSG thrash Milan
Superstar forwards Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé were both on target on Wednesday to help boost their teams’ chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages. Haaland scored twice in defending champions Manchester City's 3-1 win at Young Boys in Group G, while Mbappé set Paris Saint-Germain on the way to a crucial 3-0 win over AC Milan in Group F. Haaland hadn’t scored in his previous five matches in the competition, but he ended that improbable run by blasting a spot kick down the middle in the 67th minute to put City 2-1 ahead. The Norway striker wrapped up the victory with a curling shot into the top corner in the 86th minute for his 37th goal in 33 Champions League games. City moved onto nine points, three clear of second-placed Leipzig after the German team beat Red Star Belgrade 3-1. PSG bounced back from their 4-1 humiliation at Newcastle to move top of Group F. France forwards Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani scored either side of half-time. Teen midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery set up two goals, including PSG’s third for South Korea winger Lee Kang-in near the end. PSG moved two points clear of Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle after the German side won 1-0 at St. James’ Park. Five-time European champions Barcelona remain on course to advance to the knockout rounds after Ferran Torres and Fermín López scored first-half goals to seal a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. The Catalan club, who haven't advanced past the group stage since Lionel Messi left in 2021, have three more points than second-placed Porto, who won 4-1 at Antwerp thanks to a second-half hat trick from substitute Evanilson. And in Group E, Feyenoord are in position to advance in their first year back in the Champions League in six seasons. Santiago Gimenez scored twice and Ramiz Zerrouki also found the target as the Dutch champions beat Lazio 3-1. Feyenoord moved a point ahead of Atlético Madrid, who were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw at Celtic. (AP)