UCL results: PSG beat Man United as Giroud scores four in Chelsea win

December 2, 2020 11:40 pm

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) defeated Manchester United 3-1 in the UEFA Champion League (UCL) match played at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

The French champions were on the brink of elimination but kept alive their chance of progressing into the knockout phase, thanks to Neymar Jr., the Brazilian striker, who scored in both halves to help them to their first win over Man United in three matches.

Despite struggling in the league in recent weeks, the French side took the lead on six minutes through Neymar who blasted in from a tight angle after Kylian Mbappe’s deflected shot fell kindly to him.

Manchester United equalized on 32 minutes through Marcus Rashford’s deflected strike after the Englishman was set up by Aaron Wan Bissaka’s low cross.

PSG regained the lead on 69 minutes through Marquinhos, who stabbed in from close range following a half-cleared corner kick.

United should have been a man down midway into the first half but the referee deemed Fred, the Red Devils’ midfielder, not to have head-butted Leandro Paredes.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man, however, got his marching order a minute after PSG regained the lead for a second bookable offence, and Man United were ripped apart afterwards.

Neymar delivered the final blow in injury time, finishing a counter-attack he started when he slotted home from six yards on the end of Rafinha’s pullback.

Man United have nine points from five games, same as PSG and RB Leipzig. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would have to avoid defeat in the final group game to advance into the knockout phase.

…Giroud scores all four goals in Chelsea win

Chelsea defeated Sevilla 4-0 in Spain to secure top spot in the group, with all four goals scored by Olivier Giroud. The 34-year-old became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the UCL since Ferenc Puskas for Real Madrid in 1965. Giroud scored three of his goals in the second half of the encounter.

Barcelona rested Lionel Messi but still romped to a 3-0 win at Ferencvaros, while Borussia Dortmund and Lazio shared the spoils in Germany with a 1-1 stalemate.

RESULTS