PSG crush Chelsea; Real in command against Man City

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Holders Paris St Germain carved out a clear advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea as substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inspired them to an exhilarating 5-2 first-leg victory at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Luis Enrique’s side twice went ahead through Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele but were pegged back each time by Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez, before Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia, with a double, netted three late goals to put the hosts in control of the tie.

Although the French champions showed defensive frailties eight months after being dismantled by Chelsea in the Club World Cup final, they produced flashes of the incisive, high-octane football that carried them to their first European Cup triumph last season.

The second leg is at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Federico Valverde struck the first hat-trick of his career as Real Madrid swept aside Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg, leaving the English side with a daunting task ahead.

Pep Guardiola's City team began brightly at the Santiago Bernabeu, but were caught out by Madrid's pace on the break.

Thibaut Courtois released Valverde down the right, who rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma to open the scoring in the 20th minute and seven minutes later Vinicius Jr fed Valverde, who beat the offside trap and drilled home.

Madrid struck again in the 42nd minute after another rapid counter. Brahim Diaz clipped a pass into Valverde's path, the Uruguayan completing his treble with a fine volley after flicking the ball over a helpless Marc Guehi.

City pressed after halftime but it was the hosts who wasted a great chance to deal another blow, when Donnarumma denied Vinicius from the penalty spot after the goalkeeper brought down the Brazilian inside the box.

"Incredible, one dreams of nights like this," Valverde told Movistar Plus.

"I really enjoyed myself today; it had been quite some time since I had enjoyed a match this much. I am pleased, I am happy, but above all, I am delighted with the team's victory."

Meanwhile, Arsenal's eight-game winning run in the Champions League came to an end as they needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Kai Havertz to rescue a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

Former Leverkusen player Havertz converted the late spot kick to cancel out Robert Andrich's 46th-minute header for the hosts, marking the first time this season that quadruple-chasing Arsenal had fallen behind in Europe's elite competition.

The sides will meet again on Tuesday in London for the return leg and a spot in the quarter-finals.

"We had the game well under control, but didn't score," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. "Then we let the game slip away. That was unnecessary. We gave them hope and it was a different game."

"In the last 20-25 minutes, we played better again and I think the equaliser was deserved," said Arteta.

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