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Champions League: Messi fires PSG, Man City sink Club Brugge
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PSG's Lionel Messi (R) and Kylian Mbappe celebrate after scoring a goal against RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League Group A match at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, October 19, 2021. /CFP

PSG's Lionel Messi (R) and Kylian Mbappe celebrate after scoring a goal against RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League Group A match at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Lionel Messi scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) came from behind to beat RB Leipzig while Liverpool survived an Atletico Madrid fightback to win 3-2 during the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League group matches on Tuesday.

At the Parc des Princes, Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe sparkled but later missed a penalty as PSG came from behind to beat RB Leipzig 3-2.

Leipzig were ahead through goals from Andre Silva and Nordi Mukiele as PSG suddenly looked disjointed.

But Messi was set up by Mbappe for the equalizer and then deftly chipped in a 74th-minute penalty awarded for a foul on the France striker. Mbappe's missed spot kick proved unimportant.

Riyad Mahrez (C) scores Manchester City's fifth goal past Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (L) during their UEFA Champions League Group A match at Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, Belgium, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Riyad Mahrez (C) scores Manchester City's fifth goal past Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (L) during their UEFA Champions League Group A match at Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, Belgium, October 19, 2021. /CFP

PSG top Group A with seven points but Manchester City bounced back from their defeat in Paris in the last matchday by crushing Club Brugge 5-1 in Belgium.

Pep Guardiola declared City's win "one of the best performances in Europe we've done so far" after Riyad Mahrez scored twice and 19-year-old Cole Palmer was among City's scorers.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal against Atletico Madrid during their UEFA Champions League Group B match at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal against Atletico Madrid during their UEFA Champions League Group B match at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Much of the night's drama happened at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, where Mohamed Salah scored another impressive goal, twisting away from a string of Atletico defenders before his shot deflected in off James Milner to open the scoring.

Naby Keita doubled Liverpool's lead with a stunning volley, but Atletico hit back with French international Antoine Griezmann scoring twice to fire up the home crowd.

Just as Atletico seemed to have the upper hand, Griezmann was given a straight red card for a high boot in the face of Roberto Firmino.

A seesawing game was decided from the penalty spot in the 78th minute as Salah sent Jan Oblak the wrong way after Mario Hermoso pushed Diogo Jota. The Egyptian's 31st Champions League goal makes him the club's top scorer in the competition, overtaking Steven Gerrard.

Atletico were then denied a penalty when the referee studied the VAR and decided Jota had not fouled Jose Maria Gimenez.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport, "We played a really solid second half in a tough game with intense football from both teams.

"We got the penalty, then there was a red card, and obviously, it was in our favor."

Luis Diaz (C) celebrates after scoring a goal to secure FC Porto's 1-0 victory over AC Milan during their UEFA Champions League Group B match at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Luis Diaz (C) celebrates after scoring a goal to secure FC Porto's 1-0 victory over AC Milan during their UEFA Champions League Group B match at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, October 19, 2021. /CFP

The Reds are top of Group B with three wins out of three while Atletico are equal on four points with Porto as Colombian winger Luis Diaz scored the only goal to beat AC Milan 1-0 in Portugal.

Diaz, who had earlier hit the post, netted midway through the second half as Porto were rewarded for their dominance in a game in which they missed several chances and barely gave Milan a sniff at the other end.

Sebastien Haller (in red and white) of Ajax heads the ball on goal to make it 4-0 against Borussia Dortmund during their UEFA Champions League Group C match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Sebastien Haller (in red and white) of Ajax heads the ball on goal to make it 4-0 against Borussia Dortmund during their UEFA Champions League Group C match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Borussia Dortmund had an off night, as they were beaten 4-0 by Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.

Former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller scored his sixth Champions League goal in three games as Ajax took an iron grip on Group C with a maximum of nine points. Dortmund are second on six points.

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior (C) in action during the UEFA Champions League Group D match with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior (C) in action during the UEFA Champions League Group D match with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Karim Benzema netted for Real Madrid as the 13-time winners thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Kiev on the eve of the start of his trial in France on charges of complicity in blackmail.

Benzema, who is due to go on trial in France on Wednesday in the "sex tape" case involving his former international teammate Mathieu Valbuena, scored the final goal in Real's rout of Shakhtar in a match played in Kiev.

A first-half own goal from Serhiy Kryvtsov put Real on their way before Vinicius Junior scored two superb goals and set up Rodrygo for the fourth before Benzema completed the job.

Edin Dzeko (L) celebrates with a teammate after scoring Inter Milan's first goal against Sheriff during their UEFA Champions League Group D match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Edin Dzeko (L) celebrates with a teammate after scoring Inter Milan's first goal against Sheriff during their UEFA Champions League Group D match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Inter Milan ended Sheriff's perfect start to their debut Champions League campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win at San Siro.

Goals from Edin Dzeko, Arturo Vidal secured the Italians' first victory in Group D.

(With input from agencies)

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