PSG held at home by Benfica in Champions League
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (right) duels for the ball with Benfica’s Antonio Silva during the match at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris
PSG 1, Benfica 1
Paris Saint-Germain can still count on Kylian Mbappé despite rumors he wants to leave the club.
The World Cup winner scored his 31st Champions League goal for PSG to become the club’s record scorer in the competition as the French champions drew 1-1 with Benfica yesterday [Macau time].
Mbappé scored from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval to put PSG in the lead. Joao Mario brought Benfica level with another penalty in the 62nd minute.
Mbappé thought for a moment he had sealed PSG’s win and started celebrating in the 87th, but his spectacular volley into the roof of the net was disallowed for an offside position.
After Juventus lost 2-0 to Maccabi Haifa in the other game, PSG and Benfica are tied with eight points at the top of Group H. Juventus and Haifa have three points each.
All eyes were on Mbappé at the Parc des Princes after reports claiming the star wanted a way out emerged earlier in the day. The France forward looked relaxed and smiling before kickoff as he waited with his teammates before walking out to the field.
Once on the pitch, Mbappé produced his trademark acceleration and unsettled defenders with his dribbles, but struggled to be decisive.
PSG pushed hard toward the end of the first half and was rewarded with a penalty when Juan Bernat surged into the box and was fouled by Antonio Silva.
Mbappé took the kick and converted from the spot with a low shot that wrongfooted goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Benfica deployed the same strategy as last week in Portugal during their 1-1 draw, with an intense press from the start. PSG weathered the pressure quite well and managed to recover the ball quickly in an even start to the match without chances.
With the injured Lionel Messi watching from the stands, Benfica had the first shot of the match in the 17th, with an effort from Gonçalo Ramos blocked by the defense. The visitors then kept pace with PSG until Silva’s mistake.
PSG played cautiously in the second half and Benfica was dangerous from crosses.
The visitors got a a penalty with 30 minutes left following a VAR check that confirmed that Marco Verratti fouled Rafa Silva just inside the box. João Mário converted it with a powerful shot down the middle.
CITY STOPPED
With Haaland rested, 10-man City was held to a 0-0 draw at FC Copenhagen, a team languishing in the bottom half of the Danish league.
Copenhagen became the first team to stop City from scoring this season in a match overshadowed by early video-review decisions.
One of those VAR calls resulted in a red card for City left back Sergio Gomez in the 30th minute for pulling back Hákon Arnar Haraldsson as the last man, harming the visitors attacking ambitions at the atmospheric Parken Stadium.
Still, City leads Group G with 10 points, followed by Borussia Dortmund (7), Sevilla (2) and Copenhagen (2).
City, like Madrid, has advanced with two rounds of matches still remaining in the group phase.
BELLINGHAM’S CONSISTENCY
At 19, England midfielder Jude Bellingham has scored in all four of Dortmund’s Champions League games this season.
Young players took center stage as Sevilla took the lead with a header from 20-year-old defender Tanguy Nianzou before Bellingham knocked in Thomas Meunier’s low cross for a 1-1 draw.
Only Haaland (5 goals) and Mbappé (4) have scored more Champions League goals this season.
Bellingham also become the highest-scoring English teenager in a single Champions League season, overtaking Wayne Rooney’s record of three goals in 2004-05.
RUDIGER TO THE RESCUE
Antonio Rudiger had his face bloodied as he scored a stoppage-time equalizer for Madrid in a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Also, Timo Werner scored his first Champions League goal since returning to Leipzig to help secure a 2-0 win at Celtic.
Madrid leads Group F with 10 points, followed by Leipzig (6), Shakhtar (5) and Celtic (1).
SURGING CHELSEA
Chelsea was at the bottom of Group E but two straight victories over Serie A champion AC Milan has seen it move into pole position to progress to the round of 16.
Chelsea moved to the top of the group on with a 2-0 win at Milan, which played most of the match with 10 men after former Blues defender Fikayo Tomori was sent off in the 18th minute after also giving away a penalty.
Jorginho converted the spot kick and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 34th.
Chelsea moved a point above Salzburg, which drew 1-1 at Dinamo Zagreb in the other Group E match. Milan and Dinamo are three points below Chelsea.
JUVENTUS CRISIS
Juventus descended further into crisis and was left on the verge of elimination from the Champions League following a 2-0 loss at Maccabi Haifa that also included an injury to key winger Ángel Di María.
Omer Atzili scored two first-half goals as Haifa earned its first Champions League win in two decades.
Juventus was left third in Group H behind PSG and Benfica with two games to play. MDT/AP
