Chelsea (group E), Dortmund (group G), Paris St-Germain and Benfica (group H) validated their tickets for the Champions League knockout stage on Tuesday during Matchday 5. Beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in Austria, Philipp Köhn and Noah Okafor’s Salzburg can still believe it.
With 6 points to their credit, Salzburg can still dream of qualification. But the Austrian champion will have to win on the Milan pitch on November 2nd. The Lombards have in fact regained the 2nd place, a step ahead of Salzburg, winning 4-0 in Zagreb against Josip Drmic’s Dinamo.
Philipp Köhn instead delivered the goods against the winner of the 2020/21 edition. Decisive on several occasions, the former FC Wil goalkeeper had to admit defeat to shots that closed the game under the skylight, signed by Kovacevic (23rd, 1-0) and Havertz (64th, 2-1). Salzburg managed to equalize 1-1 in the 49th thanks to Junior Adamu.
An option for Leipzig
Another club in the “galaxy” of Red Bull, Leipzig, for its part, opted to qualify for Group F. The team coached by Marco Rose won 3-2 against the reigning champions Real Madrid, already guaranteed in the round of 16. the final. and deprived of his Golden Ball Karim Benzema and Luka Modric.
Leipzig have three steps ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk, forced to draw (1-1) in Glasgow against Celtic. The current 8th in the Bundesliga has his destiny in hand before going to challenge Shakhtar. But they lost 4-1 at home to the Ukrainians in the opening …
PSG party
In Pool H, the ambitious PSG qualifies easily. Christophe Galtier’s men beat Maccabi Haifa 7-2 thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Neymar also found the blame in a match that was folded at half-time (4-1).
Winners 4-3 of a Juventus that does not give up after being led 4-1 in the 50th, Benfica will also be present in February at the eighth-final match. Juve, tied with Haifa with 3 points, will play their place in the Europa League on the last day with the reception of PSG.
Kobel decisive
Everything is said also in Group G regarding the first two places. Dortmund will accompany Manchester City in the second round thanks to the point won against the Citizens (0-0). But Borussia suffered and can thank Zurich goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who dismissed a Mahrez penalty in the 58th minute.
