Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first-leg tie on Wednesday, giving his team the advantage for the second leg in France.
In the other game of the night, Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick, while Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also found the net, as Liverpool thrashed Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night.
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Los Blancos started well, forcing an early corner with pressure and appealing for a penalty after Toni Kroos took a tumble in the box after a challenge from Yuri Berchiche. Replays showed it was a blatant dive from the German.
Kroos had a shot turned away by Alphonse Areola shortly after, before play was halted when Neymar went down with a knock. Marcelo and Dani Alves collided as well, leaving the former in a lot of pain.
Real remained on the front foot, but chances were rare. Ronaldo powered a free-kick over the bar, and Areola used his face to deny the Portugal international after a quick counter.
The stopper also denied Sergio Ramos, easily saving his header, while at the other end of the pitch, Keylor Navas failed to do the same. Rabiot finished off a fine team move, and the Real Madrid goalkeeper was already falling away from the ball when he pulled the trigger.
Casemiro produced a fine block on Edinson Cavani, preventing a second goal, and Benzema went very close, with Areola pulling off a great save. The Frenchman’s bid for a clean sheet came undone when Giovani Lo Celso pulled down Kroos inside the box, however, and Ronaldo converted the penalty.
Navas made the first important save of the second half, keeping out Mbappe after a quick move through Lo Celso and Neymar, and Ramos made a strong block on Rabiot. Alves claimed the defender used his hand, and replays showed Les Parisiens perhaps should have been awarded a penalty.
Ronaldo blasted a free-kick into the wall, and Neymar nailed the referee, forcing a stoppage as he received treatment:
Ramos saved his team twice in quick succession with some heroics, blocking an effort from Mbappe before producing an even better intervention to deny Presnel Kimpembe a certain goal.
Yuri’s cross was almost turned in by Alves and Mbappe, who both came up just short, and Kimpembe did well to stop Gareth Bale from getting on the end of a cross.
Just as PSG seemed likely to regain the lead, Ronaldo struck again, converting a rebound after Areola punched the ball back into the box. There was some controversy surrounding the goal, as Kimpembe was clearly fouled in the buildup.
PSG fell apart completely in the final minutes, and Marcelo would add to the lead shortly after, with his strike taking a deflection and sneaking past Areola.
The two teams will meet again on March 6.
Meanwhile, Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick, while Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also found the net, as Liverpool thrashed Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night.
Porto were without injured star striker Vincent Aboubakar, while Jose Sa replaced decorated 36-year-old Iker Casillas in goal. Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson came into midfield to skipper the side for Liverpool.
The hosts went close on nine minutes when Otavio’s shot was deflected narrowly over the bar. It was a warning sign for Liverpool, who were going to be under scrutiny at the back.
Liverpool responded to the chance with typical pace and flowing football on the break. Firmino was combining well with Mane and Salah, while left-back Andrew Robertson provided plenty of width on the overlap.
The final pass was often letting the visitors down, though, with Mane failing to tee up Georginio Wijnaldum for a tap-in. Mane soon made amends, though, when he got in behind again and saw his low shot squirm under goalkeeper Sa for a priceless away goal.
It was 2-0 Liverpool on 29 minutes when James Milner crashed a shot off the inside of the post, leaving Salah to deftly turn in the rebound after some smart skill.
The finish marked a milestone goal for Salah, in what has been a prolific first season with Liverpool.
Porto almost had a response before half-time when Yacine Brahimi played in Francisco Soares, but Aboubakar’s replacement shot just wide with Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius beaten.
Porto tried to force the issue after the break, but Liverpool needed just eight minutes to score a third. It came when Firmino was played through by Salah, with Sa parrying the striker’s shot and Mane putting in the rebound.
The goal was a superb break between Liverpool’s fleet-footed front three, who sped from one end of the pitch to the other, combining brilliantly thanks to some wonderful touches.
Firmino made it four after superb work from Mane released the tireless Milner, who rolled across for the Brazilian to slot in.
It was Firmino’s last contribution, as the gifted No. 9 soon made way for Danny Ings, while Joe Gomez came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Mane hammered in his hat-trick goal in the 85th minute to effectively end the tie before the second leg at Anfield.
Credit: Bleacherreport
