DIRECT. Benfica – PSG: despite a flash of Messi, Paris are satisfied with the draw, the video summary

It will be a matter of choosing your hero. Some will see Lionel Messi as the savior of Paris Saint-Germain, the only Parisian scorer on a remarkable action where everything was done with a touch, from Hakimi on the right, via Vitinha, then Messi for Mbappé in pivot for Neymar who comes back on the Argentine who with a delicate left inside wraps the ball in the door of a defenseless Vlachodios. At the height of Benfica’s Lisbon domination, PSG found the blame with a flash of genius. The only one of a badly organized match where the French champion will be shaken, beaten up by Lisbon in confidence, carried by a fervent and noisy audience. Twenty long minutes in which the apathy of Marquinhos and others could have played tricks on him.

But it is also the strength of PSG this season, even less well collectively, find a player to get him out of the routine. So it was Messi, unless it was Donnarumma. Even more than the Argentine, the Italian goalkeeper kept his team afloat when he took water from all sides, multiplying the decisive stops as when Rafa Silva found the interval and slipped a pass to the millimeter between Danilo and Nuno Mendes for David Neres. In the area, the attacker saw the Italian intervene and deflected a reflection on his line of his shot. Shortly before, he had overturned an attempt by Gonçalo Ramos, left behind by Marquinhos and Danilo on Antonio Ramos’ long throw. The young defender could have also scored when, after a short corner kick, he was well served in the box by Neres. On the spot he does not place the ball and pulls Donnarumma in full axis who avoids the draw, in the meantime scored by Messi. However, the European champion goalkeeper had to bow just before half-time. After a high steal on Neymar’s adventurous ball out, Fernandez was moved to the left of the box. He is in no hurry, the Argentine has made efforts to roll up a vicious return center. Gonçalo Ramos is short but hinders Danilo who, overwhelmed by the momentum, deflects into the goal. While he got his hands on the game, showing his technical superiority during the long retention phase, Paris was captured.

A first period in chiaroscuro where the Parisian collective will have failed. The second had the merit of offering a better face, Christophe Galtier’s men controlling the debates and getting the clearest chances with Mbappé or Hakimi, much more present in attack. Less aggressive, the Lisboets settle for a few raids and are still close to surprising their opponent at the end of the game when Rafa Silva passes from the central circle to 6 meters where his tip stumbles on Donnarumma. Finally, almost logically, the two favorites from Group H ended up neutralizing each other. Beyond the victory that eludes it, Paris could regret the scenario with the loss of Nuno Mendes. Hit in the hamstring of his left leg, the Portuguese limp and risk missing several weeks of competition. As for the Champions League, Marquinhos and his teammates won’t have much time to mull over as they will find Benfica next week. This time it will be at the Parc des Princes. A good opportunity to recover.