Mbappé brace, Haaland late show: Champions League chaos live tonight

From Mbappé’s ruthless brace to Haaland’s clutch winner, tonight’s football results shake up Europe – but one superstar totally disappeared. Find out who.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-23, the pitch is on fire... Did you keep up with the football results today? Because Europe just went into full chaos mode. From Kylian Mbappé turning on beast mode in Paris to Erling Haaland ripping up another defence late on, this Champions League night had everything: screamers, penalties, VAR nerves, and one or two big names who seriously went missing.

Mbappé headlines Paris thriller under the lights

Let's start in Paris, because that's where the temperature really exploded. Paris Saint-Germain edged a wild 3-2 home win over a stubborn opponent, and, of course, it was Kylian Mbappé who stole the show with a deadly brace.

PSG flew out of the blocks. On 18 minutes, Mbappé buried the opener after a slick one-two with a teammate, smashing low into the far corner. Just ten minutes later, he coolly slotted a penalty for his second, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0. Two shots, two goals – vintage Mbappé.

The visitors refused to fold. A whipped cross from the right was met by their towering striker, who powered in a header for 2-1 before half-time. After the break, chaos: PSG thought they were cruising when their playmaker slid in a third goal, only for VAR to check a tight offside. This time, the flag stayed down and the goal stood – cue massive roars from the Parc des Princes faithful.

But it wouldn't be Champions League drama without a twist. A clumsy challenge in the box gave the visitors a lifeline from the spot, converted coolly to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy last 15 minutes. Mbappé nearly completed his hat-trick with a curling effort that shaved the post, but in the end his brace was enough.

Star watch: Mbappé – absolute hero. Every time he got the ball, defenders panicked. His movement, his acceleration, the confidence on that penalty – top tier. On the other hand, PSG's other star forward had a quieter night, missing a big one?on?one that could've killed the game. The crowd loved the win, but you could feel the frustration over those missed chances.

Haaland delivers late – classic striker's finish

Switching over to England, the Premier League giants in European action gave us another drama show. Their powerful number 9, Erling Haaland, left it late but made the difference in a tight 2-1 victory that kept his side's Champions League campaign on track.

The game started slowly before exploding around the half?hour mark. The home side went 1-0 up after a slick move down the left, with their winger cutting inside and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. The visitors hit back right after the restart, capitalising on a defensive mistake – their midfielder pounced on a loose ball and fired home for 1-1.

Then came the big talking point: a VAR offside check that had everyone losing it on social media. Haaland thought he’d put his side ahead with a bullet header from a corner, wheeling away in trademark celebration, only for the ref to stand with his finger in his ear. Lines drawn, angles checked, Twitter going nuclear… and finally, the decision: marginal offside, goal ruled out.

Did Haaland sulk? Not a chance. In the 87th minute, he made the difference for real. A long diagonal was nodded down into the box, Haaland muscled his defender out of the way, let the ball bounce once, and slammed a right?foot half?volley into the roof of the net. Pure number?9 brutality. 2-1, stadium in meltdown, opposition hearts broken.

Star watch: Haaland – clutch closer. He wasn't at his most involved for 70 minutes, but when it mattered he turned the match. Meanwhile, the creative star behind him – a big?name playmaker – struggled to find his rhythm, misplacing passes and getting visibly frustrated. This was Haaland dragging his team over the line almost single?handedly.

Elsewhere in Europe: big names, mixed nights

Across the continent, the football results today painted a crazy picture. One Spanish giant had to grind out a 1-1 draw away from home. Their star midfielder tried to dictate the tempo, but it was their young winger who made the real impact, cutting inside to curl an equaliser into the far corner after they fell behind to a scrappy tap?in.

In Italy, a defensive masterclass took centre stage. A Serie A heavyweight edged a tight 1-0 win thanks to a first-half rocket from their attacking full?back, who smashed a loose ball from the edge of the box straight into the top corner. Their superstar striker – usually the headline act – actually had a rough night, missing a free header and then dragging a big chance wide. Today, the defenders were the heroes.

What all this means for the Champions League and league tables

So how do these results shake up the bigger picture? PSG's win with Mbappé's brace keeps them right in the mix at the top of their Champions League group, while Haaland's late winner keeps his club clear of the chasing pack.

In terms of the domestic angle, Premier League live implications are huge. With the English giants keeping their form in Europe, the pressure is now back on their league rivals chasing them in the football league table. Dropped points this weekend could suddenly become fatal in the title race.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

Check how tight the top four has become, which sides are pushing for Champions League spots next season, and who is getting dragged towards the relegation scrap. The live table makes tonight’s late goals feel even bigger.

Social Media Spotlight: Mbappé & Haaland break the Internet

My take: some stars shine, some hide

From a reporter's seat, this felt like one of those nights that define narratives. Mbappé and Haaland looked every bit like the players you build a club around – big moments, big finishes, no fear. When the pressure hit its peak, they stayed ice?cold while others around them panicked.

On the flip side, a couple of so?called world?class names absolutely shrank under the spotlight. Missed sitters, half?hearted pressing, heads dropping after VAR calls – you could see why fans online are questioning whether some of these elite squads are as balanced as they look on paper.

In my opinion, some managers are getting saved by individual brilliance right now. Tactical plans are wobbling, defensive structures look fragile, but when you have Mbappé or Haaland in your side, you can get away with it – at least for tonight. If this keeps up, a few coaches could find themselves under serious pressure once the magic from their superstars dries up.

What's next? Buckle up – the season just tilted

The Champions League news tonight feeds straight back into the weekend chaos. Squads will be tired, rotation is coming, and every dropped point will echo in both the domestic title race and the top scorers today charts.

Keep an eye on who responds to this evening’s drama. Do PSG ride Mbappé's form to crush their next league opponent? Does Haaland carry that late?winner swagger into the Premier League live action and keep smashing in goals? And which of the under?fire stars finally step up after being roasted on social media?

For now, Europe belongs to the clutch finishers. The numbers, the drama, the league positions – it all looks different after tonight.

Check full stats & standings now

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