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Champions League: Liverpool edge Atletico, Messi at the double for PSG

Man City, Real Madrid win big, Ajax slam Dortmund for four

messi-mbappe-salah-twitter Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the PSG win over RB Leipzig, (right) Mohamed Salah celebrates his second goal against Atletico Madrid | PSG and Liverpool Twitter

Liverpool staved off a comeback from Atletico Madrid to win a five-goal thriller in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Spectacular goals from Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita within the opening 13 minutes were cancelled out by two Antoine Griezmann strikes to leave the teams level at half-time.

In the second half, Griezmann would see a red card for a high-boot challenge and Salah would score his second of the night from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Diogo Jota was fouled in the box.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was named man of the match for several spectacular last-ditch saves that prevented the Spanish side from taking the game away.

In the other Group B game, Colombian Luis Dias scored for a dominant Porto against AC Milan in a 1-0 victory that leaves Milan with zero points from its three opening games.

Liverpool top the table with nine points having won all three games, while Atletico and Porto have four points each.

Messi-Mbappe combine well

Kylian Mbappe scored one and had a hand in two goals scored by Lionel Messi as Paris St Germain beat RB Leipzig 3-2. Messi did not look his best but his Panenka from the penalty spot won the game for PSG as he notched up two more Champions League goals for the team. He is yet to score in the French league.

Mbappe was on fire, bursting away to score on the counter attack in the ninth minute before Leipzig’s Andre Silva levelled in the 29th.

In the second half, Nordi Mukiele stunned the home team with a volleyed goal from a cross to take a surprise lead for the German side.

Messi’s two goals, one assisted by Mbappe and a penalty after the Frenchman was pushed down in the box, sealed the deal for PSG, though Mbappe would miss a penalty in stoppage time.

PSG remain top of the table with seven points, while Man City are second after crushing Club Brugge 5-1. Riyad Mahrez scored a brace for City.

Dortmund humiliated

Dutch champions Ajax slammed four past a hapless Borussia Dortmund. Marco Reus turned the ball into his own net from a Dusan Tadic free-kick while Daley Blind scored with a half volley as the Dortmund keeper was called into action several times.

Antony and Sebastian Haller heaped misery on the German team with two more second-half goals. Dortmund’s in-form striker Erling Haaland struck the crossbar but was silent for most of the game.

Real Madrid also won big, routing Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 to overcome the humiliating loss to little Sheriff Tiraspol in the previous match day. Sheriff, which tops the table with its two consecutive wins, was beaten 3-1 by Italian champions Inter Milan, who are recovering from a poor start to the season.

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