German teams get 6 points
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FC Bayern still has its sights set on direct qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League. Coach Vincent Kompany’s team deservedly won 5-1 (2-1) in the half home game against Schalke at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Goals from Konrad Laimer (11th minute), Thomas Müller (45th), Michael Olise (70th/foul penalty, 90th + 3) and Jamal Musiala (87th) ensured a good starting position for the German record champions in the new year In the preliminary round they still have to play at Feyenoord Rotterdam and against Slovan Bratislava.
The Brazilian Kevin gave the Ukrainians an early lead (5th). Because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Donetsk has to play its home games abroad.
RB Leipzig is eliminated
Due to the 2:3 (1:1) against Aston Villa, RB Leipzig can no longer reach the next round of the premier class. In 24th place and taking part in the playoffs, the Saxon Bundesliga club is seven points short. It was the sixth defeat in the sixth game of the new league phase.
After the early deficit caused by John McGinn’s goal in the third minute, Loïs Openda (27th) equalized. Shortly after the break, the British took the lead again, this time through Jhon Durán (52nd), before Christoph Baumgartner equalized for the weakened Saxons in front of 40,406 spectators. Ross Barkley scored the winning goal (85th).
Bayer Leverkusen celebrates late
Nordi Mukiele fired German champions Bayer Leverkusen late to an important win over Inter Milan. The 1-0 score in the 90th minute was the decisive goal. Leverkusen has 13 points after six games and has a good chance of qualifying directly for the round of 16 in the new premier class format. For Inter it was the first defeat and the first goal conceded of the Champions League season; the Italian champions now have 13 points like Leverkusen.
Bayer head coach Leverkusen didn’t have a real center forward in the starting lineup.
Champions League: Real and PSG improve chances
Defending champions Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have better chances of reaching the knockout rounds in the Champions League. The Royals from Madrid won 3-2 (1-1) at Atalanta Bergamo and have nine points after six games. As of today, that would be enough for the intermediate round before the round of 16. PSG won 3-0 (1-0) at RB Salzburg and now has seven points.
Kylian Mbappé scored for Real in the 10th minute, but the star player was substituted with an injury in the 36th minute. Charles De Ketelaere (45.+2) managed to equalize shortly before the half-time whistle with a penalty kick. After the break, Vinícius Júnior (56′) and Jude Bellingham (59′) gave Real a comfortable lead before Ademola Lookman (65′) made the game exciting again with his goal.
In Salzburg, Goncalo Ramos (30th), Nuno Mendes (72nd) and Désiré Doué (85th) scored for Paris, which, like Real, had had a bad start to the premier class season. The first eight in the table qualify directly for the round of 16, the clubs in places 9 to 24 first play an intermediate knockout round. Previously, Liverpool had become the first club to make it directly into the round of 16 thanks to a 1-0 (0-0) win at FC Girona – their sixth win in their sixth game.