Paris (AFP)

Paris struck down by a teenager! The impressive Norwegian Erling Haaland knocked out twice PSG (2-1) and offered Dortmund a good advantage Tuesday during the knockout stages of the Champions League, also marked by the failure of tenant Liverpool against Atlético ( 1-0).

- Paris knocked out in Dortmund -

Nothing will be spared PSG: cursed in the knockout stages of C1 for three years, the Parisian club very badly started its disenchantment operation Tuesday evening in Dortmund, struck down by a blond giant barely 19 years old.

Certainly, PSG remains in the race for qualification thanks to the goal scored outside by Neymar. But we will have to do better, much better in the return match on March 11 to finally see the quarters. And it will be without Marco Verratti, suspended for accumulation of yellow cards.

The history of football will no doubt remember the confirmation of Erling Haaland on the great stage of European football, with a supersonic double (69th, 77th) to respond to the equalization of Neymar (75th). Either his 9th and 10th goals to join the top scorers of this C1 Pole Robert Lewandowski!

The Norwegian, who arrived from Salzburg in January for 20 million euros, knocked out the Parisian ogre almost by himself. First by throwing himself to catapult the ball to the bottom at close range, and then with a cannon shot in a skylight which already postulates for the goal price of the season.

He also rarely moved the Paris defense, like Presnel Kimpembe, in great pain.

It is a deserved result for Dortmund, as Paris delivered a very pale copy, perhaps because of the tactical innovation of their coach Thomas Tuchel who traded his usual 4-4-2 for a 3-4-3 supposed to stabilize the defense.

But that did not really work, the Borussia harassing the Parisians in the dry cleaners and taking advantage of boulevards in counter-attack. The restless Jadon Sancho thus spoiled a five against three (14th), and twice found the gloves of the Parisian goalkeeper Keylor Navas, author of crucial parades.

Parisian side, we expected a lot from Neymar, too often injured in the knockout stages of PSG in the last two seasons.

The Brazilian, out of rhythm after a rib injury, was long suffocated by the defense, until the breakthrough of Kylian Mbappé who served his Brazilian partner for the goal of hope (75th).

But that was not enough not to plunge PSG back into the throes of doubt and "negativity", in the words of sports director Leonardo. And there are three weeks left in Paris to recover from this disappointment, on pain of another early disillusionment in the Champions League ...

- Liverpool fall into the trap -

Could Atlético have dreamed of a better scenario? In a confrontation where they were given largely beaten in view of their slow season, the "Colchoneros" drew on their usual recipes, offensive opportunism and defensive sacrifice, to become the fourth team only this season to successfully beat the European champion In title.

From the 4th minute, Diego Simeone's team benefited from a helping hand of fate: the midfielder of the "Reds" Fabinho involuntarily stored a corner towards his cage and his counterpart "rojiblanco" Saul only had to push the ball to the bottom to be able to exult.

Then, the flat 4-4-2 of the "Atleti" slowly closed its trap on the men of Jürgen Klopp, who had to wait half an hour of play to address their first strike!

Klopp had warned, playing against Atlético is "one of the most difficult things". And the people of Madrid could even have increased the score by Alvaro Morata without a rescue from the Brazilian goalkeeper Allison (26th).

The score remained unchanged in the second half but we must not bury Liverpool: the "Reds" had they not overthrown Barcelona last year in the semifinals after losing 3-0 in the first leg?

© 2020 AFP