Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. both scored twice as Real Madrid beat Salzburg 5-1 to allay any lingering fears of a Champions League exit.
The defending champions had lost three of their first six games in the new-look competition and started the evening in 22nd place. But with two first-half goals from Rodrygo, both assisted by Jude Bellingham, they flexed their muscles emphatically and calmed their nerves.
Kylian Mbappe added a third three minutes into the second half and two goals from Vinicius Jr. put Madrid in complete control long before Mads Bidstrup scored a late consolation goal.
Man City slips into the Champions League elimination zone after defeat against PSG 📉 pic.twitter.com/sgLURkV5rB
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
There was similar relief in Paris when PSG staged an impressive comeback, beating Manchester City and securing their place back in the play-off places.
The hosts were 2-0 down thanks to goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland, but Ousmane Dembele turned things around.
The former Barcelona winger reduced the deficit and then Bradley Barcola made it 2-2, with all four goals coming in ten frantic minutes.
PSG weren’t done yet though and Joao Neves headed them ahead before Gonzalo Ramos made it 4-2 with the final shot of the game.
PSG have moved up to 22nd but City need to beat Club Brugge at the Etihad next week to have any chance of finishing in the top 24.
Bayern struck in Rotterdam
Bayern Munich will probably have to settle for the playoffs after a surprising 3-0 defeat at Feyenoord.
Santiago Jimenez scored two goals, the second from a penalty, and Ayase Ueda scored a late third for Rotterdammer.
Celtic were also home winners after Loris Benito’s late own goal gave the Glaswegians a 1-0 win over Young Boys.
Brendan Rodgers’ men dominated but it looked like it wasn’t their night when Marvin Keller saved Arne Engels’ penalty. However, Benito’s late blunder means Celtic are guaranteed a place in the playoffs despite Daizen Maeda’s sending off.
Big guns virtually guaranteed top 8 spots
Arsenal and Inter have all but secured a place in the top eight after tonight’s wins.
Lautaro Martinez’s goal was enough to give Inter victory over Sparta Prague, while Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scored for Arsenal as they beat Dinamo Zagreb.
AC Milan are also comfortably in sixth place after a 1-0 win over Girona thanks to Rafael Leao’s brilliant goal.
Benjamin Sesko was on target as RB Leipzig secured their first win with a 2-1 win against Sporting CP, while Brest’s hopes of a place in the top eight were dashed by a 2-0 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.
