London [UK]: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a 4-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in their UEFA Champions League league-phase encounter on Thursday, while Real Madrid staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat AS Roma 4-3 in another high-scoring contest.
PSG made an impressive start against Manchester City, with Desire Doue opening the scoring in the 13th minute before setting up Ousmane Dembele for the visitors’ second goal just two minutes later.
Vitinha extended the French side’s advantage in the 32nd minute, converting a move initiated by Warren Zaire-Emery to give PSG a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
Manchester City responded after the interval as Erling Haaland pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute. However, Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s three-goal cushion with a long-range strike in the 63rd minute.
Haaland scored his second goal of the match in the 75th minute to reduce the deficit to 4-2, raising hopes of a late City comeback.
The hosts continued to press in the closing stages, but PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov produced crucial saves to preserve the visitors’ two-goal advantage.
The victory took PSG to the top of the Champions League standings with six points from two matches, ahead of Barcelona and Aston Villa in second and third places, respectively. Nine teams have won both their opening fixtures.
Haaland, meanwhile, reached another milestone with his brace. At 26 years and 85 days, the Norwegian striker became the youngest player to score 60 Champions League goals, surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous record by one day.
In another league-phase encounter at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Real Madrid overturned a 3-1 deficit to defeat Roma 4-3, scoring three goals in the closing minutes.
Roma took the lead through Marten de Roon in the 20th minute, but Kylian Mbappe restored parity for the Spanish side five minutes later.
The hosts regained control after halftime, with Donyell Malen scoring twice in the 51st and 57th minutes to put Roma 3-1 ahead.
Real Madrid mounted a remarkable comeback in the final stages as Carlos Espi reduced the deficit in the 82nd minute before Endrick struck three minutes later to level the score at 3-3.
Antonio Rudiger completed the turnaround in the 90th minute, converting a set-piece delivery from Arda Guler to seal a dramatic 4-3 victory for the Spanish giants.
The result lifted Real Madrid to eighth place in the Champions League standings with six points from two matches, joining eight other teams with a perfect record in the opening two rounds.
[DD News]