Mbappé, Kane, Haaland on fire as Champions League return

MADRID, Spain:

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City return to the Champions League with Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland enjoying red-hot starts to their seasons.

They all found the net in their teams' league victories this weekend to extend impressive scoring runs. Each has scored at least once in all but one of the games in which they played for club and country this season.

Haaland arrives for Man City's league-phase match at Villarreal today, having scored 23 goals in 13 matches, including 10 goals in his last five matches with City and Norway. He scored both goals in City's 2-0 win against Everton in the English Premier League on Saturday.

The fastest player to 50 goals in the Champions League, the 25-year-old Haaland also scored twice when City drew 2-2 at Monaco in the Champions League earlier this month. City had opened with a 1-0 win against Napoli.

The 32-year-old Kane has 22 goals in 14 matches, with 15 goals coming in his last eight games with Bayern and England. He scored once in his team's 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Bayern, which currently lead the league phase, host Club Brugge tomorrow.

'VERY PLEASED'

Mbappe has 18 goals in 14 appearances with Madrid and France. He has scored nine goals in his last six games, including the winner in Madrid's 1-0 win at Getafe in the Spanish league on Saturday.

"We're very pleased with how Kylian is doing," Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. "He's been decisive with his goals and his involvement."

The 26-year-old Mbappe is set to become the youngest player to make 90 appearances in the Champions League proper. The record is currently held by former Madrid great Raul Gonzalez, who was 27 years old when he reached that mark.

Madrid, which also started the league phase with two victories, host Juventus tomorrow. The Italians are coming off two draws in the Champions League, against Borussia Dortmund and at Villarreal. Juventus lost 2-0 at Como in the Italian league on Sunday.

SURPRISING QARABAG

Six teams have started with victories in the first two rounds, including surprising Qarabag from Azerbaijan, which will go for three in a row when they visit winless Athletic Bilbao tomorrow. Qarabag had never won in the competition proper before.

Among the others with two wins are defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, which visit Bayer Leverkusen today. - AP