Champions League: PSG still held in check by Benfica

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé, scorer against Benfica Lisbon, in the Champions League.

REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

2 mins

As in the first leg, Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica in Group H of the Football Champions League on October 11, 2022. Striker Kylian Mbappé, whose French and Spanish media reported announced the desire to leave PSG with a bang in January, scored.

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“ 

Kylian Mbappé never talked about leaving in January. 

“It is with this declaration at the microphone of Canal Plus by Luis Campos, the sports adviser of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), that the European evening of PSG began on October 11, 2022.

If, a few hours earlier, several French and Spanish media announced the striker's desire to leave the French club, the person concerned did not reveal anything about his supposed ill-being, against Benfica Lisbon, in the Champions League group H.

Kylian Mbappé goalscorer

Better for the Parisians: the superstar made the difference in the 39th minute with a penalty snatched by his Spanish partner, the side Juan Bernat.

A somewhat flattering opener as PSG lacked inspiration against a well-grouped and applied Portuguese club.

Clear chances were rare and the visitors did not miss theirs to equalise.

Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario converted a penalty conceded following a foul by Italian midfielder Marco Verratti on Portuguese striker Rafa Silva (1-1, 62nd).

Third draw in a row for PSG

Despite the activity of Mbappé – another goal of which was logically invalidated for an offside (86th) – PSG therefore conceded a third draw in a row, in all competitions.

A score identical to that of the first leg, on October 5th.

A draw which also and above all deprives the Parisians of direct qualification for the round of 16 of the competition.

Following Juventus Turin's 2-0 loss to Maccabi Haifa, a victory would indeed have propelled them to the next round, before their meetings against Haifa (October 25) and Turin (November 2).

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2022-2023: RESULTS OF THE 4th DAY

GROUP E

Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) – RB Salzburg (Austria)

1-1

AC Milan (Italy) – Chelsea (England)

0-2

GROUP F

Shakhtior Donetsk (Ukraine) – Real Madrid (Spain)

1-1

Celtic Glasgow (Scotland) – RB Leipzig (Germany)

0-2

GROUP G

FC Copenhagen (Denmark) – Manchester City (England)

0-0

Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – FC Sevilla (Spain)

1-1

GROUP H

Maccabi Haifa (Israel) – Juventus Turin (Italy)

2-0

Paris Saint-Germain (France) – Benfica Lisbon (Portugal)

1-1

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