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PSG beat Juventus on Matchday 6 of the Champions League but left top spot to Benfica Lisbon, who won 6-1 in their own game.
The first part of PSG’s 2022/2023 European campaign ends in mixed results: the Parisians have certainly offered themselves a victory in Turin against Juventus (1-2). However, the river score between Benfica Lisbon and Maccabi Haifa (6-1) took away first place in Group H.
The stakes were not the same for the two teams in this match: if PSG simply played for first place in the group, Juventus Turin could lose everything in the event of defeat, even the consolation of a transfer to the Europa League. Logically, it is therefore the men in black and white who are the most enterprising at the start of the match.
Juventus press and look for their striker Arkadiusz Milik in the opposing area. If the two centers of Adrien Rabiot (2nd, 3rd) are easily neutralized by his former teammates, that of Filip Kostic, author of a high recovery, is much more dangerous. Milik takes his chance from the left but Marquinhos pushes back (4th).
Mbappé gives the advantage to Paris
A few minutes later, Locatelli is served by Filip Kostic, untenable. Behind, Manuel Locatelli can follow up with a long shot from the right foot, but his ball flies wide (10th). The wake-up call for PSG, which enters the opposing half for the first time with the ball. And Kylian Mbappé, served by Lionel Messi, goes to goal. If Federico Gatti tries to hang on to his jersey after suffering a small bridge, the native of Bondy does not stop, eliminates Manuel Locatelli with a hook, before scoring by sending a shot with his right foot beyond the reach of Wojciech Szczesny. Paris did not touch a ball in the area but leads 1 to 0 (13th).
In reaction, Manuel Locatelli tries a curling shot from the right from the entrance to the skylight but narrowly misses the skylight (18th). Juan Cuadrado is the next to try his luck (23rd). PSG suffers but also knows how to take advantage of these rare opportunities. Lionel Messi combines with Kylian Mbappé then follows up with a low left-footed shot. Wojciech Szczesny diverts in extremis (33rd).
Juve pushes and, inevitably, PSG ends up cracking. Manuel Locatelli serves Juan Cuadrado. Right side, in the surface, he throws himself to deflect the ball with his head. Gianluigi Donnarumma misses his exit and behind, captain Leonardo Bonucci concludes in the snatch (39th, 1-1).
Nuno Mendes striker on his first ball
After the break, the game resumes with an observation round. Both teams play stopped and struggle to put their opponents in danger. The entry of Nuno Mendes wakes up the match. Served by Kylian Mbappé, the Portuguese makes the difference on his left side against Juan Cuadrado. In the penalty area, he adjusted Wojciech Szczesny with a perfect cross shot (69th, 1-2).
Juventus think equalize in stride. From afar, Filip Kostic fires a shot with his left foot. Gianluigi Donnarumma intervenes but Manuel Locatelli follows. However, the touch referee signals an offside at the start of the action (78th).
While PSG played quietly, the score panicked in the other Group H match. Benfica Lisbon won with a five-goal lead against Maccabi and Paris only found out a few seconds before the final whistle. , too late to score a third goal. Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and their teammates, despite the victory, will be satisfied with a second place, synonymous with a difficult draw for the round of 16.