Holders Real Madrid keep alive automatic qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, but PSG are hoping for Man City.
Champions League holders Real Madrid are back on track in Europe with with a 5-1 win over RB Salzburg to ensure that they will not be eliminated at the first hurdle.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes scored twice each and French superstar Kylian Mbappe also scored in a ruthless performance at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost three of their first six games in a worrying start to the competition and are likely to have to compete in an extra round of play-offs in February, part of the competition’s new format, unless they finish in the top eight.
Brazil winger Rodrygo struck twice in the first half to help Madrid take control, Mbappe struck shortly after the break and Vinicius Junior grabbed his own goal.
Defeats to Liverpool, AC Milan and Lille put Madrid under pressure ahead of the final two group games, and their visitors from Austria started with a shout, bypassing Los Blancos.
Madrid were not noticed until Rodrygo’s first strike after 23 minutes changed the dynamics of the game.
Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo and Bellingham finally clicked for Real
The winger, in sensational form in recent weeks with eight goals in his last nine games in all competitions, finished neatly after Jude Bellingham pushed a cross into his path at the back post.
His second goal was even better, set up by Bellingham with a brilliant rebound, which Rodrygo finished first-time with a sharp strike on the corner.
Mbappe scored the third goal early in the second half, dispossessing Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and slotting home to continue his recent run of good form after a shaky start to life in Madrid.
Veteran Luka Modric sent Vinicius Junior down the left with a lovely pass for Madrid’s fourth, and the Brazilian finished with a powerful drive past Blaswich.
Vinicius struck again after Fede Valverde broke through the middle and slotted home after a clever team move, with the striker slotting home with ease after losing his marker.
Mads Bidstrup later volleyed home to give Salzburg a slim consolation as well as continuing Madrid’s unenviable run of goals conceded in each of their Champions League appearances this season.
Despite the late setback, Madrid’s demolition job was just what they needed to settle their nerves after a poor start.
The win left Los Blancos in 16th, a point behind Bayer Leverkusen in eighth, the last spot for direct qualification to the last 16.
PSG surprised Man City with a comeback victory in Paris
Paris St Germain came back from two goals down to surprise Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League, leaving the English champions out of the play-off places and in danger of elimination.
Goals from PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos turned the game on its head after City conceded the game by the neck.
Substitute Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scored in the 50th and 53rd minutes to give City a 2-0 lead, but fans who braved the torrential rain at the Parc des Princes were treated to a brilliant comeback.
Dembele latched on to Barcola’s cross to score in the 56th minute. Barcola equalized for the hosts four minutes later when he tapped in a rebound after Desire Doue’s superb cross-bar.
PSG parked themselves in City’s half and took the lead in the 78th minute when the visitors’ backline struggled to clear Vitinha’s free-kick, leaving Neves to head home a heel. Ramos added his fourth with a goal in stoppage time.
PSG climbed to 22nd in the table, while City fell to 25th, one place below the play-off qualification spots.
