Home ›› 05 Nov 2021 ›› Sport
Liverpool and Ajax kept up their perfect records in the Champions League this season to qualify for the last 16 on Wednesday, while a Paris Saint-Germain side missing Lionel Messi were held by RB Leipzig.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool blew Atletico Madrid away in a whirlwind start at Anfield, with Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane scoring in the first 21 minutes to secure a 2-0 win against opponents who finished with 10 men.
Atletico’s Brazilian defender Felipe was sent off for a foul on Mane before half-time, as the 2019 Champions League winners made it four wins out of four in Group B. Liverpool are now guaranteed to top the group, sitting seven points clear of Porto with two games remaining, while Atletico are another point back in third.
“You earn a lot of money to win Champions League games. The first target was to get through this group but we did it with two games to go,” Klopp told BT Sport.
Ajax continued their marvellous run in Europe this season by coming from behind to win 3-1 at 10-man Borussia Dortmund as Sebastien Haller scored his seventh goal in just four Champions League appearances.
After Marco Reus’ penalty gave Dortmund the lead, Ajax equalised in the 72nd minute as Dusan Tadic nipped in at the back post to score. Ivory Coast striker Haller then headed in Antony’s cross and Davy Klaassen wrapped up the win from another Antony assist in stoppage time, meaning Erik ten Hag’s Ajax have scored 14 goals in winning all four games so far in Group C.
“We want to annoy Europe’s elite teams,” Ten Hag told broadcaster DAZN.
Messi missed PSG’s trip to Germany due to injury, and without him Mauricio Pochettino’s side came from behind to lead before conceding a late penalty and settling for a 2-2 draw.
Christopher Nkunku headed Leipzig in front before Andre Silva had a 12th-minute penalty saved.
Kylian Mbappe set up Georginio Wijnaldum to equalise midway through the first half and the Dutchman headed in another before the break, the goal standing despite initially being flagged offside.
However, a Presnel Kimpembe foul was spotted after a VAR review in the last minute and Dominik Szoboszlai scored from the spot to make it 2-2.
“We are disappointed, but our objective remains to win the group and qualify,” said Pochettino.
Leipzig are eliminated despite the draw, while Manchester City move above PSG to the top of Group A thanks to their 4-1 home win against Club Brugge.
Phil Foden’s opener was cancelled out by a John Stones own-goal, but Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus all scored in the second half for City.
Real Madrid are two points clear of Inter Milan at the top of Group D after Karim Benzema netted twice in a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Benzema’s opener was Real’s 1000th European Cup goal and the Frenchman got the winner after Fernando had brought Shakhtar level.
