Liverpool smash and grab stuns PSG in Champions League as Bayern cruise

Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah (C) controls the ball in the air during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Liverpool (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 5, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Liverpool snatched a late winner to beat Paris Saint-Germain
away 1-0 in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on
Wednesday, while Bayern Munich took charge with a 3-0 win over German rivals
Bayer Leverkusen.
French league leaders PSG dominated at the Parc des Princes
but couldn't make their superiority count and Harvey Elliott struck three
minutes from time after replacing Mohamed Salah with Liverpool's only shot on
target.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a goal ruled out for offside in
the first half but Arne Slot's side defended resolutely to keep PSG at bay and
are in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals going into next
week's second leg at Anfield.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made several crucial
saves as PSG had 28 attempts on goal but could not replicate the finishing that
had allowed them to score 21 goals in their last five Champions League outings.
"It was probably the performance of my life,"
Alisson told TNT Sports.
"To go away with a win over here was probably a bit
more than we deserved," added Slot.
If Liverpool finish the job at home next Tuesday, they could
face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, but PSG coach Luis Enrique said his side
will have "nothing to lose".
"We deserved to win clearly, we created a lot of
chances," said the Spaniard. "Football is unfair many times and you
have to accept that."
Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern closed in on the last
eight with a first win over Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in seven matches.
The England captain headed in Michael Olise's superb cross
to give Bayern the lead at the Allianz Arena.
Jamal Musiala added a second early in the second half when
Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar let an innocuous delivery into the box from
Joshua Kimmich slip from his grasp.
Bayern lost Manuel Neuer to injury before the night went
from bad to worse for Leverkusen, who had Nordi Mukiele sent off.
Kane rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot following
a VAR review after he was impeded by Edmond Tapsoba.
"It was a really big step in the right direction. We've
struggled against this side over the last couple of years," Kane told
DAZN.
A downbeat Alonso admitted it would take a remarkable turn
of events for Leverkusen to overturn the deficit.
"In football we've seen big miracles quite often and we
almost need one," he said.
Narrow Barca
advantage
Barcelona edged past Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon thanks to
Raphinha's second-half strike despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
Teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off midway through the
first half for a foul as the last defender, but Barcelona clung on and Raphinha
drilled home after 61 minutes to give the five-time European champions a slim
advantage.
"I said to the (team) chapeau, I'm very proud," said
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.
"After the 22nd minute with 10 players it was not easy,
and this is a big win."
Inter Milan seized control of their tie against Feyenoord as
Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez scored in a 2-0 win in Rotterdam.
France striker Thuram hooked in a cross from Nicolo Barella
slightly against the run of play late in the first half, with Lautaro Martinez
lashing in a second on 50 minutes.
"We had to suffer a bit tonight but we didn't have to
for long," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
"We were together when we needed to be. We know the
challenges that the second leg will bring, but I am very happy."
Feyenoord knocked out Inter's city rivals AC Milan in the
play-off round but have since changed coaches, with former Arsenal and
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie returning to take charge of his
hometown club.
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