Algerian Mahrez matches Senegalese Mane’s Champions League record

Algerian Mahrez achieves rare Champions League feat

JOHANNESBURG, May 6 (ANA) – Manchester City’s Algeria striker Riyad Mahrez on Tuesday became the second player for an English team to score in both legs of the European Champions League semi-final stage.

Mahrez scored a brace as Manchester City beat Paris-Saint Germain 2-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. It meant the English Premier League (EPL) leaders advanced to the final 4-1 on aggregate. Mahrez accounted for one of the goals his side scored in the first leg on April 28 at Parc des Princes Stadium, in Paris.

Liverpool’s Senegalese sensation Sadio Mane was the first to achieve the feat, scoring in both legs of his side’s Champions League semi-final against AS Roma in 2018. Liverpool would go on to lose the final 3-1 to Real Madrid.

Mahrez, now aged 30, began his career in English football with Leicester City in 2014, and was a key member of the side which would go on to win the EPL title in the 2015/2016 season – with that triumph widely regarded as one of the greatest sporting shocks ever.

He left Leicester in 2018 after making 158 appearances and scoring 42 goals to join Manchester City. His time with Leicester, clearly will remain special to the player who was still making a name for himself on the biggest stage.

Mahrez has now made 85 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 27 goals. City are currently hurtling towards the EPL title with 80 points from 34 games. They have a 13-point lead over second-placed Manchester United. One more win for City will take them to 83 points, which will be enough to win the title. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman