PSG were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Benfica in their Champions League Group H clash on Tuesday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring for the French side amid speculation about his future.
Mbappe scored a penalty in the first half before Joao Mario equalized in the 62nd minute to give the visitors a deserved share of the points as. PSG failed to win for the third time in a row in all competitions.
Mbappe also scored four minutes from time with a bicycle kick, but his effort was ruled out for obvious offside.
PSG now leads the group with eight points from four games, one more than Benfica in terms of goals scored.
Juventus are third on three points, one point ahead of Maccabi Haifa, who were defeated 2-0 by the Israeli team earlier in the day.
Mbappe appeared unconcerned at the Parc des. Princes by reports in Spanish and French media that he wants to leave the club during the next transfer window due to the way he is being used on the field.
“I’m always with Kylian Mbappe, and he’s never mentioned leaving in January.” “The president never told me anything about him leaving in January,” said Luis Campos, PSG’s football advisor.
“I’m here to refute this, and to state that Kylian never told me or the president that. He planned to leave in January.”
Christophe Galtier, the coach, added: “You create information from a rumor… I haven’t spoken with Kylian because he is focused on the pitch, and he demonstrated tonight what a fantastic player he is.”
ANKLE PAIN
On the field, France forward Mbappe combined well with. Neymar, but PSG lacked something in attack in the absence of Lionel Messi, who was ruled out of the game due to a calf injury suffered last week in a 1-1 draw at the Estadio da Luz, which was followed by a goalless draw at Stade de Reims the following weekend.
Mbappe was replaced at the last minute after limping off the field with a sore ankle five days before. PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Olympique de Marseille.
PSG took 34 minutes to get their first shot on target through Pablo Sarabia. Whose weak attempt was easily blocked by Odysseas Vlachodimos. Benfica started brighter but failed to create clear chances.
Six minutes later, however, the hosts took the lead when. Mbappe calmly converted a penalty after Antonio Silva fouled Juan Bernat in the area. With the goal, he surpassed Edinson Cavani as PSG’s leading scorer in the Champions League, with 31 goals.
Six minutes into the second half, Mbappe was at it again, but his curled, right-footed effort went just wide.
Benfica leveled shortly after the hour mark when Mario converted a penalty kick following a foul on Rafa Silva by Marco.
Both teams seemed content with one point each from an underwhelming match. Which put them on the verge of qualifying for the round of 16.
On October 25, PSG will host Maccabi, while Benfica will host Juventus.
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