Dec 11, (V7N) - Mohamed Salah's decisive penalty secured Liverpool's 1-0 win over Girona on Tuesday, maintaining their perfect record in the Champions League this season. Meanwhile, defending champions Real Madrid bounced back with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Serie A leaders Atalanta, and Paris Saint-Germain reignited their campaign with a crucial 3-0 win over Salzburg.

Liverpool Extend Perfect Run

Salah's second-half penalty marked his 50th Champions League goal, making him the 10th-highest scorer in the competition's history, tied with Filippo Inzaghi. The win ensures Liverpool's continued dominance in the revamped league phase, virtually guaranteeing their spot in the last 16 under new coach Arne Slot. Despite the result, Slot expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We had hardly any control over the game."

Real Madrid Bounce Back

After a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in their previous match, Real Madrid overcame Atalanta in a thrilling encounter. Goals from Vinícius Junior and Jude Bellingham sealed the win after Kylian Mbappé’s early strike was canceled out by Charles de Ketelaere’s penalty. The victory lifted Real to 18th place with nine points, keeping their knockout hopes alive.

PSG and Leverkusen Make Moves

PSG delivered a commanding performance, defeating Salzburg 3-0 to move into 24th place, the final play-off spot. Bayer Leverkusen edged Inter Milan 1-0, becoming the first team to score against the Italian side in this year’s competition, solidifying their second-place standing in the league phase.

Aston Villa and Brest Shine

Aston Villa continued their impressive Champions League debut with a 3-2 win over Leipzig, keeping them in contention for the knockout stages. Brest stunned PSV Eindhoven with a 1-0 victory, climbing to fifth place in their maiden campaign at Europe's elite level.

Other Results

Bayern Munich dominated Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1, while Club Brugge secured a 2-1 win over Sporting. Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb played out a goalless draw, leaving both teams in the hunt for progression.

Upcoming Matches

Wednesday’s fixtures promise more excitement, with Manchester City visiting Juventus and Barcelona traveling to Borussia Dortmund. As the league phase progresses, the race for qualification intensifies, with teams vying for a direct spot in the last 16 or aplace in the play-offs.

END/WSD/RH/