PARIS: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi both scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain rounded out their Champions League group-stage campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Club Brugge on Tuesday.
Mbappe scored twice in the first seven minutes, the second-fastest double at the start of a game in Champions League history, before setting up Messi to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Mats Rits got one back for the Belgians in the second half but Messi then netted a penalty to make it 4-1 and give PSG a welcome confidence boost in an underwhelming European campaign to date.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side knew before this game that they were heading through to the last 16 in second place in Group A behind Manchester City after losing 2-1 in England last month.
That means a theoretically harder tie against a group winner awaits them in next Monday’s draw, with Liverpool, Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United already potential opponents.
However, with Mbappe on this kind of form and Messi saving his best for Europe, there is still plenty of reason for optimism for Pochettino, who should also have Neymar back from his latest ankle injury by the time the knockout phase begins in February.
Mbappe needed just 73 seconds to open the scoring, following up to finish low into the far corner after Simon Mignolet had saved from Nuno Mendes.
The France World Cup-winning forward netted again in the seventh minute, showing great technique to volley in from Angel Di Maria’s assist for his 11th goal this season.
The only player to score two quicker goals at the start of a Champions League match is Rodrygo, for Real Madrid against Galatasaray in 2019.
Mbappe, who doesn’t turn 23 until later this month, is a player in a hurry and he is already onto 30 Champions League goals in his career — at the same age Messi had 25 and Cristiano Ronaldo, now the competition’s all-time top scorer, had eight.
It was a stunning burst of pace from Mbappe on the left that led to PSG’s third goal in the 38th minute as he picked out Messi in the middle and the Argentinian advanced to the edge of the box before scoring with a trademark left-foot finish into the corner.
The visitors pulled one back midway through the second half as Noa Lang set up Rits to finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However, with RB Leipzig beating Manchester City 2-1 in the other Group A game, Club Brugge were condemned to finishing bottom and missing out on a consolation Europa League spot.
Messi then made it 4-1 for the Ligue 1 leaders in the 76th minute, converting a penalty he had won himself.
While the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has managed just one Ligue 1 goal in nine appearances since moving to France in August, he now has five in five Champions League appearances for PSG.
Messi moves onto 125 career goals in the Champions League, a tally bettered only by his old rival Ronaldo, who has 140.
Mbappe and Messi double up in PSG victory
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Mbappe and Messi double up in PSG victory
- Mbappe scored twice in the first seven minutes, the second-fastest double at the start of a game in Champions League history
- Mats Rits got one back for the Belgians in the second half
Filipina fairytale continues as Eala sets up quarterfinal date with Gauff
- Cheered on by thousands of noisy Pinoy fans, Dubai debutant Eala beats Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to reach Friday’s last 8
- 2-time Grand Slam winner Gauff progresses despite hitting 16 double-faults and needing to save 3 match points against Belgian Elize Mertens
DUBAI: The Filipina fairytale continues after Alexandra Eala, 20, defeated Sorana Cirstea 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday night to book a last-eight date with world No. 4 Coco Gauff at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“I take it all in with a spoonful of gratitude,” Eala said, after being cheered on like the hero she is quickly becoming among her compatriots.
The world No. 47 — the highest-ranked Filipina in WTA Tour history — showed a quiet confidence to slowly grind down her veteran opponent and reach the quarterfinals of a 1000 tournament for the second time.
Cirstea is 15 places higher in the world rankings and reached the semifinals here two years ago but such was the energy inside a thronged stadium, the Romanian never looked likely to quieten the Kabayan crowd.
That is not to suggest the passionate fans got their new hero over the line. Eala has after all been preparing for moments like these since she was 4 years old and being coached by her grandad in Manila.
“Obviously their support means a lot to me,” she said.
“It definitely motivated me in the tight moments and makes the emotions more intense when I win, but I wouldn’t attribute all of it to them. Whether they’re there or not, I’m going to fight until the end and do what I can to win.
“I’ve not always been a competitor who’s been put in night sessions on center court. I’ve been playing tennis for many years and I’m also used to playing in front of no crowds.
“I’m still in the earlier phase of my career, so I’m doing my best to enjoy and I hope the feeling is reciprocated by the crowd. It just creates an amazing atmosphere.”
With the first set going with serve through 10 games, Eala finally grabbed the break she needed to win it. In the second set, such was Eala’s early dominance and the noise it generated among the partisan crowd that it almost felt cruel on Cirstea.
Every winner from Eala, every unforced error from the Romanian, and every break in play, was filled with ear-splitting cheers, catchy chants, and the waving of flags, posters, and hand-made signs, including one that read “Alex, please marry my son.”
Cirstea had complained only a few weeks ago at the Australian Open when she deemed Naomi Osaka to have been excessively vocal while pumping herself up between points.
How she must have felt then during this 98-minute match as the crowd screamed like Beatlemania reborn and the only thing that could quieten it — her A-game — never quite got going. The umpire had his work cut out, repeatedly reminding the fans that silence was required during play.
When Eala closed out the win, smiling widely before eventually letting out a guttural roar in the middle of the court, she turned her focus to Thursday. “Win or lose, it’s a great opportunity for me to learn.
“Obviously facing a player like Coco is something that people would kill to do, and in a quarterfinal here in Dubai as well, so I’m super excited.”
Earlier in the evening on the same court, Gauff hit 16 double-faults and had to save three second-set match points as she fought back against Elise Mertens to confirm her place.
The American, ranked No. 4 in the world, progressed 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3, but it was painful viewing, even for her. “I’m trying to be positive,” she said.
“I’m critical. I feel like ... I don’t know. It’s weird. I feel like the last tournament I took some steps forward, and today I took some steps backwards, but still got the win.
“It’s a weird feeling. I feel conflicted. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I’m also happy. I could have easily lost.”
Despite Mertens beating a top 10 player only once in the past 12 attempts on hard courts, Gauff started erratically, losing two of her first three service games and looking well-beaten as she slumped to a first-set loss within 33 minutes.
The stats card made for even more unpleasant reading. Three double-faults and 14 unforced errors off her forehand epitomized a first-set performance far from the standard expected of a world No. 4.
But then came a glimmer of hope as she broke back. In doing so, she regained a little control and it was then the turn of Mertens, 21, to fire off a series of unforced errors.
She found herself 5-3 up and serving to tie the set, but once more faltered, double-faulting and failing to hold to allow her opponent a route back into the set and push it toward a tie-break.
What followed was a showcase of ugly tennis and erratic, wild serving. Gauff saved three match points before getting lucky when she clipped the cord with a backhand. Apologizing with a raised hand, she took the lead and closed out the tiebreak 11-9 to force a deciding set.
“I feel like it’s almost easier to play when you’re down than when you have the match in your hands,” Gauff said. “I just wanted to give myself the chance today.
“I feel like my last two matches, in Doha and the Australian Open, I didn’t feel like I fought enough for the second sets. This match, when I lost the first set, I really wanted to fight for that second and give myself the opportunity to compete in the third.”
With the third set confirmed, she grabbed the opportunity, securing the vital break at 4-3. “I don’t even remember the last time I saved match points, probably when I was 15, so I’m really happy to get through today, it was a long one,” she said,
Addressing the majority-Pinoy crowd with a giggle, she said: “I know you guys are probably here for Alex, so I’m sorry I made you wait.”
