Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar all scored for Paris Saint-Germain as they defeated Maccabi Haifa 7-2 to secure their spot in the Champions League last 16, while Benfica extended their unbeaten streak to 20 games in all competitions this season with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Juventus.
18-year-old Antonio Silva gave Benfica the lead after 17 minutes, but Juventus equalized four minutes later through Moise Kean.
Joao Mario’s disputed penalty gave Benfica the lead once more, and Rafa Silva then appeared to secure the victory with two outstanding goals.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
To make it 4-3, Juventus scored two quick goals in the closing minutes through Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie.
With three points, Juventus must concentrate on securing a spot in the Europe League, which they can do on the final matchday when they host PSG. Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain are tied for the group H lead with 11 points each.
On the other hand, PSG’s unstoppable trio proved to be too much for a Maccabi team to handle, despite the Israelis’ valiant efforts in the Group H match, which saw Abdoulaye Seck score twice.
Lionel Messi scored after Mbappe picked up a loose ball and passed it to him In the 19th minute.
Soon after, as the home team advanced on the break, Mbappe doubled the lead. A pass intended for Neymar ended up at the feet of the French striker, who scored.
Neymar’s finish of a play that involving all three PSG strikers in the buildup but Abdoulaye Seck’s head on a promptly taken free kick rekindled Maccabi’s dim hopes.
Messi promptly put an end to any hopes of a comeback, restoring PSG’s three-goal lead just before halftime with a rifled attempt from distance that struck the bottom corner.
After the break, PSG didn’t let up, with Mbappe scoring his second goal of the game before Maccabi’s Sean Goldberg added an own goal.
In the 84th minute, substitute Carlos Soler made it 7-2, giving Messi another assist.
On the final matchday, the French team heads to Juventus knowing that all they must do is match Benfica’s outcome against Maccabi Haifa in order to secure first place.
Also read: ancelotti-injuries-exist-so-if-you-dont-want-to-get-injured-stay-on-the-sofa/
Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United declined an offer to sign Cristiano Ronaldo
PSG’s boss Galtier was effusive in his praise for his team, pointing out that the freedom with which they played brought out the best in the front three.
“The 4-3-3 system meant the front three could be a little higher up the pitch and they had a little more freedom in their movements thanks to the work of the midfield,” Galtier said.
“It’s a privilege to have those players and to see them play like that, for each other. I saw the players enjoy themselves, and that’s very important,” He added.
“I had to think about how our fantastic three players up front could express themselves as best possible, and that the system could be very important.”
“It’s very pleasant to train them, to see them play every day. For a coach, it’s paradise.
“There are a lot of games, we have to manage them, and you have to decide who to put behind them to play the ball forward precisely.”
Click On the Red-Bell icon displayed at the right bottom corner of your reading screen to be the first person to get the latest news updates sent directly to your smartphone’s notification.
