PSG edge Real Madrid; Man City rout Sporting

Sports Desk, Feb 15 (EFE).- Kylian Mbappe scored deep into stoppage time Tuesday to lead hosts Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout stage tie.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are all but assured of advancing to the quarterfinals after thrashing Sporting 5-0 in Lisbon.

For all of their dominance in Ligue 1 and the Premier League, respectively, both PSG and Man City remain in pursuit of a first Champions League title.

PSG lost the 2020 final to Bayern Munich and City fell short last year against Chelsea The score line Tuesday at the Parc des Princes in Paris was deceptive, as the home side put eight shots on target to none for the Blancos.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the 13-time Champions League winners in the match, denying Mbappe twice from open play and stopping a Lionel Messi penalty.

But in the 94th minute, Mbappe provided another demonstration of the skills that have made him so attractive to Real Madrid, which saw PSG turn down offers for the striker last August.

In the dying seconds of stoppage time, the French international worked his way into the area and eluded two defenders before beating Courtois with a blast into the far corner.

The Blancos’ Casemiro and Ferland Mendy picked up yellow cards and will be suspended for the March 9 second leg in Madrid.

Tuesday’s result in Lisbon was Manchester City’s largest-ever margin of victory in a Champions League away match.

Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring in the 7th minute and the visitors led 4-0 at the break on Bernardo Silva’s brace and a goal by Phil Foden.

Silva started to celebrate a hat trick after putting the ball in the net again early in the second half, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

Raheem Sterling made it 5-0 in the 58th minute with a brilliant strike from distance. The second leg is set for March 9 in Manchester. EFE lmpg-pfm/dr