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#2 Cavani and Neymar scored in Belgrade to ensure top spot for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League round of 16 as winners of Group C following a clinical 4-1 victory away against a very strong Red Star Belgrade side.
Neither of Napoli and Liverpool had previously managed to win away at Belgrade. But Thomas Tuchel's side inspired brilliance and courage throughout the match as first-half goals from Edinson Cavani and Neymar, a second-half header from Marquinhos, and a late Kylian Mbappe strike were enough to send PSG into the last 16.
This PSG side is different from last season's, as they have improved since their first showing away at Anfield in a 3-2 loss on Matchday 1. Since their defeat to Liverpool, PSG have managed to draw twice against Napoli, defeated Red Star Belgrade twice, and won against Liverpool in the reverse fixture in Paris.
"The same players played against Liverpool [on Matchday 5]. It's not about the system, but about the attitude. It's really hard to win here and the guys played magnificently," Thomas Tuchel told RMC Sport. "I really liked our reaction after the goal. We controlled the game. We played with a lot of risks and we sometimes forgot to close the spaces"
Young prodigy Kylian Mbappe said:
"I don't think the team is improved; it's more that we had a realisation. We started performing and did what was asked of us. We asked questions of ourselves as individuals and as a team"
Captain Thiago Silva was relieved at reaching the round of 16.
"The goal is achieved. I was a little scared this year that we would not go to the round of 16 because it was difficult," he said, as quoted by L'Equipe. "But in the difficulty, there are positive things. I'm happy with the last matches we did. I think mentally, since Naples, we have changed a lot"
