PARIS, Nov 1: Layvin Kurzawa scored an unlikely hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain powered into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 5-0 rout of Anderlecht, while Bayern Munich joined them in the knockout stage.

Marco Verratti curled in a terrific opening goal — his first in Europe since September 2014 — on the half-hour at the Parc des Princes, with Brazilian superstar Neymar firing in a second before the break.

The world’s most expensive player was involved in PSG’s third goal as well, as his free-kick was tipped onto the post with France international Kurzawa forcing in the rebound.

The left-back then headed in another from a Dani Alves cross and completed an improbable treble with an angled drive as PSG increased their goals haul to 17 — with none conceded — in four Group B matches.

“The hat-trick is thanks to my teammates. I am delighted and the goals will give me confidence,” Kurzawa told beIN Sports.

The French giants top their section with a maximum 12 points, with Bundesliga leaders Bayern progressing alongside them following a 2-1 victory away to Celtic.

Kingsley Coman pounced on hesitant Celtic defending to latch onto a long clearance upfield from goalkeeper Sven Ulreich and round Craig Gordon to slot into an empty net on 22 minutes.

Callum McGregor slotted in a second-half equaliser, but Javi Martinez’s brave towering header — which left the Spaniard bloodied — clinched qualification for the Germans in Glasgow.

“I knew that today would be a very difficult, intensive game. We’ve had a busy schedule recently,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

“It’s important that we have qualified, but it’s going to be difficult to finish top of the group because of our head- to-head record.”

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United were made to wait to seal their passage into the next round despite a 2-0 win over Benfica.

Benfica’s Mile Svilar, who became the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history a fortnight ago, suffered more misfortune at Old Trafford as his own goal handed United a 45th-minute lead.

The 18-year-old, at fault for the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon, atoned for that error by saving an Anthony Martial penalty, but Svilar was helpless when Nemanja Matic’s low drive cannoned off the post before hitting him on the arm and squirming over the line.

Daley Blind wrapped up victory from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after a foul on Marcus Rashford.

“We must get that point from the two remaining matches,” United manager Mourinho told BT Sport. “I am more than happy.”

CHELSEA THUMPED, ATLETICO TOILS

CSKA Moscow reignited their campaign with a 2-1 victory at Basel in the other Group B fixture. Luca Zuffi’s brilliant lob put Basel in front, but CSKA levelled through Alan Dzagoev in the second half before Pontus Wernbloom steered in the winner to leave the Russians level on six points with their Swiss hosts.

Lionel Messi and Barcelona were frustrated in a goalless stalemate with Olympiakos in Greece, while Juventus salvaged a 1-1 draw at Sporting Lisbon after Gonzalo Higuain levelled late on following Bruno Cesar’s opener.

Barcelona remain top of Group D with 10 points, three ahead of last year’s runners-up Juve, with Sporting on four.

Chelsea squandered a chance to secure a berth in the knockout stages as Stephan El Shaarawy inspired Roma to a 3-0 success over the Premier League champions in Italy.

El Shaarawy drilled Roma ahead after just 40 seconds at the Stadio Olimpico as he ran onto an Edin Dzeko knockdown to slam home from the edge of the area.

The Italy striker netted a second on 36 minutes with Diego Perotti rifling in a third from 25 yards as Roma replaced Chelsea at the top of Group C with two matches remaining.

Roma are on eight points, one above Chelsea, but Atletico Madrid — finalists twice in the past four seasons — are heading for elimination following a 1-1 draw at home to Qarabag.

Journeyman Spaniard Michel headed the Azerbaijani champions in front from a corner, and while Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey hammered in an equaliser, Diego Simeone’s side must now beat both Chelsea and Roma and hope other results work in their favor. AFP

Sept 13: As the Champions League opened with a series of one-sided games, Jose Mourinho was blunt. For the Manchester United manager, it wasn’t the Champions League at all.

“For the Real Madrids, Barcelonas and Bayerns, the Champions League starts in February. Now is just the warming up,” Mourinho said after a routine win for his Manchester United team over Swiss club Basel. “Let’s qualify, let’s make the points to qualify for the knockout phase. When we do that, let’s enjoy playing against the big guys.”

United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all cruised to easy wins on Tuesday, scoring 17 goals between them and conceding none.

Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Juventus was something of an exception, if only because the Italian team — last season’s defeated finalist — had been expected to put up more of a fight.

In the event, Lionel Messi started another European campaign in imperious fashion with two goals against an injury-depleted Juventus side.

GROUP A

Manchester United’s players didn’t have to exert themselves too much to see off Swiss side Basel 3-0, as Romelu Lukaku scored his sixth goal in six United appearances.

Marouane Fellaini and Marcus Rashford’s goals completed the win for United.

In a worrying sight for United fans and coach Mourinho, captain Paul Pogba hobbled off with a possible left hamstring injury.

In Lisbon, Benfica let slip a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to CSKA Moscow, with substitute Timur Zhamaletdinov scoring the winning goal four minutes into his Champions League debut.

GROUP B

Two woefully uncompetitive games saw Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich post easy wins.

PSG’s expensively assembled forward line of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani ran riot against Celtic in a 5-0 win, scoring four between them. A Celtic own goal ensured a night to forget for the Scottish champion.

Bayern seemed rustier in its 3-0 win over Anderlecht, leading by just one goal at halftime despite Anderlecht having a man sent off in the 11th minute.

The red card allowed Robert Lewandowski to score from the penalty spot, before Bayern wasted a string of opportunities. Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich added to the scoreline in the second half.

GROUP C

Davide Zappacosta’s stunning long-distance goal from the right flank impressed the Stamford Bridge faithful, but Chelsea needed nothing special to thrash Azerbaijan’s Qarabag 6-0.

A poor Qarabag defense also conceded goals from Michy Batshuayi, Pedro Rodriguez, Cesar Azpilicueta and Tiemoue Bakayoko. There was also an own goal by Maksim Medvedev.

Atletico Madrid sees itself as a contender to win the Champions League, but poor finishing made it look well short of that standard in a 0-0 draw with Roma.

GROUP D

Lionel Messi started the new European season with yet another game-winning performance for Barcelona, while the Catalan club’s record signing Ousmane Dembele made his debut.

Still, Barcelona’s three-goal winning margin against a weakened opponent was slight revenge for its loss to Juventus in last year’s quarterfinals.

On Tuesday at the Camp Nou, Juventus was missing defender Giorgio Chiellini, forward Mario Mandzukic and midfielder Sami Khedira through injury, while Juan Cuadrado was suspended.

Sporting Lisbon won 3-2 at Greek side Olympiakos, taking the lead after just 69 seconds through forward Seydou Doumbia, on loan from Roma. AP

PARIS, Aug 4: Six years after taking over perennial underachiever Paris Saint-Germain, the French club’s wealthy owners finally got what they wanted by hiring Neymar — a player they believe will bring them Champions League glory.

The Brazil star became the most expensive player in soccer history after completing his blockbuster transfer from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($262 million) on Thursday. By paying the release clause in his contract, PSG shattered the world transfer record to sign arguably one of the top three best attacking players in the game, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The previous transfer record had been set a year ago when Manchester United paid 105 million euros (then $116 million) to bring Paul Pogba back from Juventus.

Ironically, the 25-year-old Neymar signed a five-year contract with the French league side just five months after playing a decisive role as Barcelona produced a comeback that made Champions League history – at PSG’s expense.

Having lost their first leg match 4-0 in France, Barcelona was trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the 88th minute in Spain, only for Neymar to score twice in the final minutes before Sergi Roberto’s winner in added time sealed a humiliating exit from the Round of 16 for PSG.

Next season, it will be different.

“Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings,” Neymar said in comments released by PSG. “I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”

PSG would certainly welcome the kind of success that Neymar enjoyed in Spain.

In his four seasons there, Neymar scored 105 goals as Barcelona won the Champions League, Club World Cup, two Spanish league titles and Copa del Rey three times.

Now he will look to emerge from the shadow of five-time world player of the year Messi at Barcelona, becoming the biggest star in the French league in a team without the track record of success to match his former club.

While Barcelona has lifted the European Cup five times and won the FIFA Club World Cup three times, PSG is yet to win either prestigious competition.

Since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club in June 2011, PSG has spent several hundred million dollars on top-class players — including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani — in its effort to build a team capable of winning Europe’s top club competition.

But the big names were not enough to bring success on the continental stage, and PSG has yet to make it through the quarterfinals of the Champions League under its Qatari owners.

Maybe that’s about to change.

“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Neymar said. “Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates, is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.”

It’s a mission that is clearly shared by the club’s top management.

“Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “He will bring a very positive energy to this club.

“In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams.”

PSG’s announcement put an end to a saga that started about two weeks ago with rumors of his possible transfer, though the club had already tried to lure him to the City of Light last summer.

Neymar is expected in Paris on Friday and will hold a news conference early in the afternoon, PSG said. He might make his debut on Saturday when PSG starts its new league campaign against promoted Amiens at the Parc des Princes.

Not surprisingly, his transfer has not gone down well in Spain.

In a statement, Barcelona said “the club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case.”

The comment followed a claim by Spanish league president Javier Tebas on Wednesday that Neymar’s move would break Financial Fair Play rules introduced by UEFA, European soccer’s ruling body.

Barcelona did all it could to stop Neymar from leaving, and had vowed to complain to UEFA if his seemingly untouchable release clause was triggered.

The payment of the release clause was the second attempt Neymar’s representatives had made on Thursday to break his bond with Barcelona. Earlier in the day, his lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo had tried to deposit the enormous sum at the Spanish league’s offices in Madrid, but he was turned away.

Tebas had told Spanish sports daily AS that he wouldn’t let the league act as an intermediary to an operation that he, like Barcelona, believed violated UEFA’s FFP rules. He had called PSG a “state-supported club.” The club’s Qatari owners are closely linked to the energy-rich ruling family.-AP

SANT JOAN DESPI, Aug 2: Neymar has told Barcelona that he plans to leave the club, with a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain seemingly imminent.

The club said Wednesday that the Brazil striker told his teammates “that he had the intention of leaving the club and seeking his future elsewhere, and the coach has given him permission to leave training.”

PSG is rumored to be ready to pay his release clause of 222 million euros ($262 million). That would dwarf the 105 million euros (then $116 million) that Manchester United paid for France midfielder Paul Pogba last year.

Barcelona said Neymar did not specify where he wants to play next, but the only club speculated to be after him — and one of few which could handle the cost of the transfer — is the Qatari-owned PSG.

PSG did not answer messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Barcelona said Neymar left the training ground 30 minutes after arriving on Wednesday. He had arrived to Spain on Tuesday night after holding publicity events for both his personal brand and Barcelona in China.

Last year, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona that tied him to the Catalan club through 2021.

Both Barcelona club president Josep Bartomeu and Spanish league president Javier Tebas have said they will consider filing a complaint to UEFA if they think the PSG transfer violates financial fair play rules.

With his lightning-quick feet, creative instincts and scoring touch, Neymar helped maintain Barcelona as one of the top clubs in Europe for the past four seasons as he blossomed into a worldwide star.

He teamed up with Lionel Messi and Luis Saurez to make an almost unstoppable attack. Neymar scored 105 goals — some of them true gems — and was a key playmaker for Barcelona as it won a Champions League, two Spanish leagues, three Copa del Reys, one Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups.

Yet, even before this drawn-out saga, Neymar also provided more than one headache for his club.

His transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013 became the source of a legal dispute that has dogged Barcelona even since. Barcelona said at the time that his transfer cost 57 million euros, while an investigative judge says that the real cost was at least 83.3 million euros.

Now Bartomeu and predecessor Sandro Rosell, who resigned as president of the club amid the transfer scandal, are facing trial on charges of fraudulent administration.

Neymar has also mixed his flair for fancy goals with bouts of immaturity on the field, often needlessly taunting defenders and trying to upstage them with his dribbling skills.

But nobody doubts Neymar is one of the greatest talents of his generation.

PSG saw it first-hand in last season’s Champions League. In his most memorable performance at Camp Nou, Neymar scored two goals and set up two more to lead Barcelona to a 6-1 rout to overturn PSG’s 4-0 first-leg win in the last 16.

Unless PSG gets last-second jitters, Neymar will take over a team that is searching for a leader who can achieve elusive Champions League success.-AP

PARIS, Jul 22: Neymar’s decision to post a photo of himself in thoughtful contemplation sparked a fresh wave of speculation that he is on the verge of sealing a world record 222-million-euro ( 256.8 million) move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Instagram picture, even accompanied by a matching emoji, shows the 25-year-old Brazilian superstar stretched out on the pitch with his chin resting on his left hand.

It garnered more than 1.5 million ‘likes’ within 12 hours of it being posted in the United States where Barcelona are on a pre-season tour.

Three of the ‘likes’ came from PSG players — winger Angel Di Maria, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and midfielder Marco Verratti.

On Tuesday, PSG skipper — and fellow Brazilian — Thiago Silva gave a digital thumbs up to a mocked-up photo montage published by media company Esporte Interativo showing Neymar in a PSG shirt along with compatriots and prospective teammates in France.

Esporte Interativo used the montage to illustrate what they insist is an agreement reached for Neymar to move to the French capital from Barcelona where he has played since 2013.

Like Barcelona, PSG are also touring the United States where Neymar’s future has dominated conversation.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde described the ongoing saga as a “time of rumors”.

“We understand it’s how it is. He is with us right now, one of us,” said Valverde in East Rutherford where his team plays Juventus in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

“He’s a player we love and we want. Not only football wise, but also for the things he brings to the locker room.

“There’s no need to worry about something we don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. If it happens in the future, we’ll see.”

PSG skipper Thiago Silva told Le Parisien newspaper he had no idea if the Brazilian star was about to switch to the French capital.

“I don’t know. I hear a lot from journalists and a player like Neymar would be an interesting addition to the PSG project,” said Thiago, speaking in Florida.

“But, for the moment, it is especially important to prepare for the new season. After and if Neymar arrives it would be a good thing for the squad.”

Is Neymar going to sign? “Not yet,” smiled the captain.

‘THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB’
In Spain, it was reported by Catalan media group RAC 1 that “certain players” at Barcelona have already tried to convince Neymar not to accept the PSG offer which would dwarf the 105 million euros Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba.

Javier Mascherano said Neymar was “the future” of Barcelona as the Argentine pleaded with the striker to stay put.

“In the case of Ney, obviously he is young, and I hope he’s here with Barcelona for many more years,” Mascherano told American sports network ESPN.

“He is a really important player for the club. Because of his age, he’s the future of the club, and we hope we can keep on counting on him.”

However, it’s believed the Brazilian is being seduced by the immense wealth on offer to him from the Qatari owners of PSG and by the opportunity to have a team built around him.

The daily Sport newspaper also claimed that Luis Suarez has also attempted to persuade Neymar not to split up the MSN frontline at Barcelona made up of Lionel Messi, Suarez and the Brazilian star.

Catalunya Radio said that the deal is “95 percent complete”.

One of the keys would be the payment to Neymar’s father and agent of a “premium exceeding the 40 million” paid when the player controversially moved to Spain from Santos.

Other reports have claimed that Neymar senior has recently met with, or is about to meet, PSG sporting director Antero Henrique.

However, Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre insisted Tuesday that it is “200 percent” certain that Neymar will stay at the club.

In a public game of tit-for-tat pronouncements, PSG coach Unai Emery hailed the Brazilian.

“Neymar has advanced his game massively and today he is one of the five best in the world,” said Emery.

“Our president is working hard to attract top players and our fans would be content to count on a new top player to go along with the talent we already have.”

Neymar, meanwhile, will display his coveted skills for the first time this summer when Barcelona face Juventus in New Jersey on Saturday.-AFP