PARIS: Erling Haaland continued his remarkable goalscoring form by netting twice as Manchester City thrashed FC Copenhagen 5-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Chelsea saw off AC Milan to revive their hopes of reaching the last 16.

Holders Real Madrid survived a spirited challenge from Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu to win 2-1 and extend their advantage in Group ‘F’ but former Real coach Julen Lopetegui was fired by struggling Sevilla minutes after a 4-1 loss at home to Borussia Dortmund.

Paris St Germain were held for the first time despite Lionel Messi’s fine opening goal in a 1-1 draw at Benfica.

Haaland was needed on the field for only the first half yet still scored twice in what has become a routine rout for City this season. It is now five goals in three Champions League games and 19 in 12 club games overall for the relentless Norwegian forward.

Real are making less spectacular progress in defense of their title yet had 35 attempts on goal in holding off Shakhtar. First-half goals from Madrid’s young Brazilian forwards, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior, opened a five-point lead in Group ‘F’ over Shakhtar before their return game in Poland next week.

Lopetegui’s exit from Sevilla, where he won the Europa League title in 2020, seemed likely after only one win in seven La Liga games left the team 17th in the table.

It was confirmed after the loss to a rampant Dortmund, which followed a four-goal loss to City in the Spanish club’s previous home game in Group ‘G’. Fans chanted Lopetegui’s name as he left the field.

PSG went to Benfica tied on six points and left tied on seven after a lively, well-matched game in Lisbon. Messi’s 127th career goal in the Champions League was a curling shot after linking passes with fellow star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Also in Group ‘H’, Juventus closed the gap on the leaders with their first points in a 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot scored in each half.

Chelsea got their first win in the competition for new coach Graham Potter, cruising past Milan 3-0, though RB Salzburg now lead Group ‘E’.

Noah Okafor kept up his goal-a-game rate in the Champions League to lift Salzburg to a 1-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb.

Christopher Nkunku, the France forward who is a widely speculated transfer target of Chelsea, opened the scoring in RB Leipzig’s 3-1 win over Celtic in the group led by Real.

Haaland went into City’s game against Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium having becoming the first player in Premier League history to score three successive home hat-tricks in Sunday’s demolition of Manchester United.

The Norwegian slammed in the opening goal on seven minutes with his weaker right foot before prodding in a rebound for his second 25 minutes later.

The 22-year-old has now scored 28 times in his 22 Champions League appearances, already breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for most goals in a player’s first 30 games in the competition.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life,” City’s Jack Grealish told BT Sport. “For the first and second goals I was just laughing. He is always there. The ‘keeper said something to me as I was walking back. He said ‘He’s not human!’ I said ‘You’re telling me?’ Hopefully he can carry on this form and take us to glory.”

Visiting centre-back Davit Khocholava put through his own net, with Haaland waiting behind him, to make it three before half-time.

Haaland was denied a fourth City treble as he was replaced at the interval, but a Riyad Mahrez penalty and Julian Alvarez’s fourth goal for the club completed the rout.

Pep Guardiola’s men remain three points clear of second-placed Dortmund in Group ‘G’ and will qualify for the knockout phase with a victory in the Danish capital next week.

Jude Bellingham scored for the third time in as many Champions League outings as Dortmund romped to victory at Sevilla.

Chelsea ended their wait for a win in Group ‘E’ as goals from Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reece James sealed an impressive triumph over Italian champions Milan at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues made it back-to-back victories under new boss Potter to set up a crucial clash at the San Siro in six days’ time. Chelsea are level on points with third-placed Milan, one point behind Salzburg.

“It’s easier when you win games,” said Aubameyang. “The mood is very good at the moment. We’ll try to keep it up.”

Messi opened the scoring in the 22nd minute but Benfica levelled four minutes before the break as Danilo Pereira scored an own goal and both sides spurned chances to win in the second half.

Messi only scored 11 goals in 34 games in his first season for PSG last term, but already has eight in 13 this time around.

“It’s normal, it takes a little time,” PSG skipper Marquinhos told Canal Plus. “Now he feels a little more comfortable... I hope Leo Messi has a great season until the end to win this title.”

Three assists from Ángel Di María ensured Juve finally earned their first points after losses at PSG and at home to Benfica — both former clubs of the Argentina winger.

Rabiot scored in each half against Maccabi Haifa, either side of Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic’s 50th-minute goal.

“I try to do my job, it’s what makes me happy, creating assists to score goals,” Di María said.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2022