A carom left PSG second in the group despite losing to Juve

Life is harsh at PSG, at least when it comes to Europe. Although he suffered a tough win against Juve (1-2) after having a really bad time, Benfica’s resounding result at the court of Maccabi Haifa (1-6) left everything even in the standings. However, the tiebreaker favored the Portuguese, who scored more goals away from Da Luz than PSG did away from the Parc des Princes. PSG saw an eye.

More rushed than usual, PSG relived the hell of so many other nights on the continental stage. The French team had to win because Benfica did the same in Israel, and they entrusted themselves with a Mbappé who was, without exception, brilliant. He scored a flag goal and helped Nuno Mendes to reach the draw in a good situation, without the misery of being in a sea of ​​sharks.

You need to learn to always treat PSG conditionally and not take anything for granted. What is white today may be black tomorrow. On the night he needed the most choral response, he found a shortcut with Mbappé. When the Frenchman wants to, he is a wonderful footballer. Out of nowhere, he removed Gatti, broke Locatelli and finished with surgical rigor from the front to the bottom of the post: 0-1. PSG has these things, although they are not round.

The sensations, however, were among the worst of the season. In a wonderful scenario like that of Juve, the team is wrinkled. His rival, despite coming in at a low time and with many absences, regained his self-esteem in the first half where he was energetic, committed and better than PSG. Meanwhile, Christophe Galtier lamented the injury to Fabián Ruiz, who left with a muscle weakness at the best time since his arrival at the club.

Success hides difficulties. PSG, desperate to withdraw, lost several balls in dangerous areas. Despite the fact that Juve needed to be more organized, before the break Bonucci pushed a header from Cuadrado into the goal. It was the deserved punishment for the French team, which had been kept up until then by a genius from Mbappé and little else. And the Champions League has given PSG enough trouble in history.

The pace set by Juve was not sustained in the second half. The tank began to empty in a game that was at times a tactical mess, with gaps on one side and the other. Christophe Galtier won the chaos. He replaced Carlos Soler with Ekitike and Juan Bernat with Nuno Mendes. A minute later, the former Porto player took advantage of a sensational pass from Mbappé to sneak inside the area and get a cross shot: 1-2.

Fifteen minutes from the end Chiesa came on, having not played since January. It was one of the best news for a Juve leveller, even if Locatelli’s goal was disallowed for offside. But once again luck was not on PSG’s side, who despite enduring the result saw how Benfica, in an exercise of heroism, scored goals against Maccabi Haifa until they lost first place. In all the cruelty of the world, Christophe Galtier’s team will once again face the Champions League draw, waiting for one of Europe’s greats to hold it against almost all odds.