Amazing Goals

With a hat trick in PSG’s 5-1 Coupe de France semifinal victory over Lyon, Kylian Mbappé took his total to 30 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions this season (to go with 17 assists).

Following Martin Terrier’s early opener for Lyon, Mbappé equalized in the 14th after ensuring that Layvin Kurzawa’s header found the back of the net from close range. Neymar then gave PSG the lead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.

There’s a lot to like about Inter Miami with Rodolfo Pizarro, Matías Pellegrini, Jorge Figal and Wil Trapp featuring in the club’s MLS debut on Sunday, but they’re obviously nowhere near last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners Los Angeles FC for the time being.

Javier Hernández made his long-awaited MLS debut on Saturday in Houston. A rare sell-out crowd at BBVA Stadium watched as Chicharito’s LA Galaxy earned a 1-1 draw with the hometown Dynamo.

It's time. @CH14_ pic.twitter.com/iNk6ECl0TQ

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 29, 2020

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thought he was the GOAT — 10 minutes later he was the goat.

Arsenal’s No. 14 scored a breathtaking bicycle kick with seven minutes left in extra time to briefly give Arsenal the lead in its Europa League matchup with Olympiakos. But Youssef El Arabi equalized in the 119th minute and Aubameyang missed a sitter right in front of the goal as Arsenal went crashing out of Europe. Olympiakos advanced on away goals with a 2-1 win on Thursday after a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last week.

It’s hard to remember a time without Lukas Podolski. He burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old after scoring 10 goals in his first 19 Bundesliga appearances with FC Köln . . . that was 16 years ago.

He’s since gone on to play for Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Vissel Kobe, as well as representing Germany 130 times before announcing his international retirement after Euro 2016.

Anthony Martial's not the sort of forward you’d associate with winning the ball back in the attacking third after a demonstration of single-minded counter pressing. He’s not a target man, but he’s also not going to thrive when shunted out wide and asked to perform industriously.

Lionel Messi and Barcelona have a massive week ahead on the road. A trip to the Stadio San Paolo to face Napoli on Tuesday in the Champions League is followed by an even bigger showdown with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday. 

Jesse Marsch's RB Salzburg entered its Europa League Round of 32 first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt looking to rebound from a loss against LASK this past weekend which cost Salzburg first place in the Austrian Bundesliga. Frankfurt came into the game having won four of its last six games, most recently putting five goals past Augsburg. Only Bayern Munich has racked up more points than Frankfurt since the Bundesliga's winter break.