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Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz delivered a strong performance yesterday in the Champions League night play-off games.
Rabat – Achraf Hakimi showed his class once again as Paris Saint-Germain swept aside Brest 3-0 to move closer to the Champions League Round 16. The Moroccan right-back was at his best, setting up the man-in-form Ousmane Dembele outside the box to let him go and score the second goal.
The 25-year-old reached a major milestone – his 56th Champions League game, making him the most capped Arab in the competition’s history, ahead of Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Salah.
PSG is now on the brink of qualification as they host next week Brest in the second leg to sea. Unless the visitors pull out a shocker, the Parisians are set to progress to the next round.
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Meanwhile, over in Manchester, Brahim Diaz came back to haunt his former club with a late goal in the 86th minute in a thrilling match at the Bernabeu.
City thought they had won it when Erling Haaland scored a penalty in the 80th minute to make it 2-1. But just like in 2022, Real Madrid refused to give up. Diaz reacted quickly after Ederson spilt a shot, slotting home to level the score. Then, in stoppage time, Jude Bellingham struck the winner after a defensive howler, leaving Pep Guardiola stunned.
Madrid may not be at their very best this season, but they have never beaten until the final whistle.
Now, City must pull off something special in the second leg next week at Santiago Bernabeu, or their European dream could come crashing down.
