MADRID (AP) – Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are back in the Champions League with the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland enjoying a red-hot start to the season.
All of them found the back of the net in the team’s league win this weekend, adding to their impressive scoring tally. He has scored at least one goal in all but one of the games he has played for club and country this season.
Haaland arrived for Man City’s league match at Villarreal on Tuesday with 23 goals in 13 games, including 10 in the last five games against City and Norway. He scored both goals in City’s 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Haaland, 25, is the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Champions League and also scored twice in City’s 2-2 draw with Monaco in the Champions League earlier this month. City opened the game with a 1-0 win against Napoli.
Kane, 32, has scored 22 goals in 14 games, including 15 in the last eight games against Bayern and England. He scored one goal in his team’s 2-1 Win against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Bayern, who currently lead the league, host Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Mbappé has scored 18 goals in 14 appearances for Madrid and France. He has scored nine goals in the past six games, including the winning goal. Madrid won 1-0 Saturday’s match against Getafe in the Spanish league.
“I’m very happy with Kylian’s form,” Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said. “He was decisive about his goals and his involvement.”
Mbappe, 26, is set to become the youngest player to play 90 games in the Champions League finals. This record is currently held by former Madrid great Raul González. He was 27 years old when he reached that record.
Madrid, who also started the league campaign with two wins, will host Juventus on Wednesday. The Italians have finished with two draws in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal. Juventus lost 2-0 to Como in the Italian league on Sunday.
amazing karabag
Six teams have gotten off to a winning start in the first two matches, including surprising Azerbaijani side Qarabagh, who will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they face winless Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. Karabagh had never won a formal competition before.
Among the teams with two wins is defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who visit Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Arsenal will be looking to build on their perfect start when they host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The Premier League leaders are aiming for their 100th Champions League win.
Inter Milan, who finished runners-up to PSG in last season’s final, visited Union Saint Giroise in Belgium on Tuesday.
Liverpool struggling
Liverpool, who have suffered four consecutive defeats in the Premier League, including a home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, will look to bounce back in the Champions League when they visit Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Liverpool’s latest setback was a defeat against Galatasaray in the second round of the league.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah needs two goals to reach 50 goals in the Champions League. The Egyptian international is trying to become the first African player to reach that mark.
Barcelona is also one of the teams trying to regain their place in the Champions League after losing at home to PSG in the previous round. On Tuesday, they will host Olympiakos at the Montjuïc Stadium.
Barcelona’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is set to become the youngest player to play 25 games in the Champions League. The current youngest player is 19-year-old PSG midfielder Warren Zair Emery.
Chelsea have only won once in the league so far, but they host winless Ajax on Wednesday. This will be Chelsea’s 200th match in the Champions League and Ajax’s 250th in their European Cup/Champions League history.
Another winless side, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, visit Newcastle on Tuesday.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
