MY ACCOUNT
Lionel Messi set another Champions League record but it was not enough for Paris Saint-Germain to beat Benfica, who clinched a 1-1 draw.
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe cleverly combined in the 22nd minute to allow Messi to curl home and become the first player to score against 40 teams in the Champions League.
However, Danilo Pereira awkwardly sent Enzo Fernandez’ cross into his own net to restore parity at Estadio da Luz.
Though PSG had the better second-half chances, boss Christophe Galtier missed the chance to become the third coach in club history to win his first three Champions League games, though his side remain top of Group H on goals scored.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on, making important stops to deny Goncalo Ramos and David Neres as Benfica shaded the early exchanges.
Yet it was PSG who took the lead, their fearsome attacking trident combing before Messi combined curled a delightful finish into the left-hand corner to make it 1-0.
However, Benfica were level just before half-time, as Fernandez’s teasing cross was skewed into his own net by Pereira.
PSG hit the woodwork just after the interval, Neymar skimming an overhead kick off the top of the crossbar after Odisseas Vlachodimos parried Achraf Hakimi’s shot.
Benfica’s goalkeeper denied Neymar and Hakimi again, but saved his best stop for last when he prevented Kylian Mbappe’s long-range effort finding the top corner.
What does it mean? PSG’s profligacy their downfall
The French champions will rue missed chances, as they take just a point back to Paris when they could easily have had all three.
They held 64.7 per cent possession and completed 700 passes to Benfica’s 377, while having more attempts (15) than their Portuguese opponents (eight) and also hitting the woodwork through Neymar.
PSG top the group though are on the same points (seven) as Benfica, four ahead of third-placed Juventus.
Masterful Messi
Messi’s brilliant start to the season continued as he once again showed himself to be an integral focal point in PSG’s attack.
Alongside his excellent finish, Messi led his team in key passes (three) and successful crosses (two), while also winning all seven of his duels.
Mbappe not at the races
Mbappe did not have his most impactful game in a PSG shirt as Benfica’s defence kept him relatively quiet.
Though he played a part in Messi’s goal, the 23-year-old had only one shot on target, while also being caught offside a team-high three times.
Key Opta Facts
– Benfica remain unbeaten at home against PSG in European competition, winning three and drawing one of their four games across the UEFA Cup, Europa League and Champions League.
– PSG have won just one of their last seven away Champions League matches (D3 L3), a 3-1 win at Maccabi Haifa in September.
– Benfica have lost just one of their last nine Champions League matches (W4 D4), a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool in last season’s quarter-final.
– Since the 2013-14 season, Neymar has more UEFA Champions League assists than any other player (30), with those split evenly between Barcelona (15) and PSG (15).
– Pereira is only the third player to score an own goal in a Champions League game for PSG in their 132 games in the competition. The others are Marco Verratti vs Arsenal in November 2016 and Layvin Kurzawa vs Barcelona in March 2017.
What’s next?
Both teams return to domestic action on Saturday, with PSG travelling to face Reims while Benfica will host Rio Ave.
