Maccabi Haifa FC – PSG. Long battered and clueless, the Parisians relied on their individualities and the Messi-Mbappé-Neymar trio to get by in Haifa and clinch a precious victory, their second in this Champions League.
23:40 – Thank you and see you soon
Thank you all for accompanying us to follow Paris Saint-Germain’s second victory in the Champions League. On the next day, October 5, the Parisians will go to Lisbon to challenge Benfica.
11:30 p.m. – Paris says thank you to its individualities
Sometimes you have to know how to be satisfied with a victory no matter the way or the content. Clearly, Paris Saint-Germain did not deliver their best performance tonight on the lawn of Maccabi Haifa, confirming their slack, but were able to find the resources to seek victory in a boiling atmosphere. These resources are simple and take the form of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. The trio of PSG stars did not shine, except intermittently and too few sequences, but knew how to do in realism. First, the Argentinian avoided a painful return to the locker room by almost miraculously equalizing on a deflected cross from Mbappé. A little later, the former Monegasque made his speed speak to improve a bright pass from the seven-time Ballon d’Or who had combined well with Neymar, giving the advantage to PSG with a shot from the inside of the foot. earthen. A gesture that Thierry Henry would not have denied. Finally, on a delicious opening from Verratti, the Brazilian annihilated the last hopes of an Israeli return, sanctioning a loose defense from Seck. A goal for everyone and a success, meager but precious spoils of an evening that could have gone wrong in the promised land.
Indeed, Paris Saint-Germain was heckled and shook on its foundations. Dazzling at the start of the season both for the number of goals piled up and for his defensive involvement, his discipline and his rigor in multiplying runs and imposing intense pressing, Christophe Galtier’s men have forgotten these ingredients. Caught up in the commitment, they left the initiative to the locals without seeking to contest. Carried by his audience, who will have sung from start to finish despite a contrary scenario, Maccabi Haifa set the tone and was rewarded for an action that said everything about the ills of PSG at that time. On the restart, Ramos relied on Verratti who missed his throw over for the Spaniard. There Abu Fani sprung from a header and gave Haziza who curled a cross for Chery at the far post, alone behind Vitinha’s back, forced to plug the breaches. Shortly before, Donnarumma had also almost been trapped by botching a raise. The Parisian ship weathered the storm and almost broke when Pierrot came to add a second goal, before being signaled offside. The Guingampais acine and his family had just missed the opportunity to sink their opponents, Messi playing the lifelines.
If the victory will bring nothing other than the comfort of a first place in Group H and a clearer horizon towards the round of 16, the Israeli evening will have given clues to the strengths and especially the weaknesses of a PSG who can not afford the sin of sufficiency and not put the minimum commitment and aggressiveness necessary for the Champions League. Fortunately for the champion of France, his individualities were there to save him the day. A chance that cannot last beyond Haifa without the rest of the team stepping up a notch.
23:15 – In the lead with Benfica
With this second success in two matches, Paris Saint-Germain top Group H with 6 points. He is accompanied by Benfica Lisbon who, in the other match of the group, dominated a Juventus Truin, once again disappointing, thanks to goals from Mario and Neres. Milik scored Turin’s only goal at the start of the game without helping the Italian club.
23:09 – Undefeated since March
With tonight’s match, Paris Saint-Germain remain on a series of 18 consecutive matches, in all competitions, where they have scored at least one goal. The last team to extinguish PSG was AS Monaco (3-0) on March 20. He is also undefeated since that date.
23:08 – Mbappé joins Cavani
By scoring PSG’s second goal tonight in Haifa, Kylian Mbappé signed his 30th goal in the Champions League with the Parisian club. He thus equals the mark of Edison Cavani.
23:03 – Mbappé: “We reacted well”
“The conditions were difficult, it was super hot and the pitch was not great, but it’s the Champions League. We came to win and consolidate our position as leader and that’s what we did”first entrusted Mbappé to the microphone of Canal +. “I think we started well then we fell asleep and we conceded this first goal. Afterwards we reacted well, knew how to impose our game”he continued, acknowledging that the team still had to improve.
22:56 – It’s over at the Sammy Ofer Stadium (1-3)!
It was hard but the essential is there with the victory for Paris Saint-Germain. In great difficulty in the first period, the Parisians were able to count on the effectiveness of their trio Messi, Mbappé, Neymar, each author of a goal, to overcome Maccabi Haifa, who weakened physically after the break (3- 1). Without convincing, the men of Christophe Galtier garnered a second success in this Champions League and can consider the sequel more calmly.
22:56 – Messi blocked twice
Messi takes charge of the free kick from 25 meters but is countered once by the wall and then a second time by an opposing header.
22:56 – A last free kick for PSG
In front of the opposing area, Messi gets a very good free kick at 90+5. The opportunity to add a 4th goal for PSG.
22:54 – Rukavytsya offside
Rukavytsya anticipates the pass too much and goes behind Marquinhos’ back to challenge Donnarumma. His shot fails to surprise the Italian goalkeeper who comes out thanks to a defender on his line but the flag goes up against the Israeli striker.
22:52 – Additional time: 6 minutes
Due to Sundgren’s injury and several stoppages, the German referee grants 6 minutes of additional time in this match between PSG and Maccabi Haifa.
22:51 – Three substitutions before added time
Just before the additional time is announced, three changes are made. On the PSG side, Neymar, just warned after his goal for chambering, is recalled to the bench in favor of Soler. On the Maccabi Haifa side, Pierrot and Cornud are replaced by Tchibota and Rukavytsya.
22:48 – The referee has ruled!
The decision has fallen for Paris Saint-Germain: and it is indeed a goal that is granted by Daniel Siebert after viewing the VAR! Perhaps a turning point in this 2nd half!
22:48 – Daniel Siebert appeals to the VAR
Are we heading towards a goal or not? Daniel Siebert has a doubt about the latest game fact and goes to check with the video assistants.
22:47 – Neymar scores another goal for Paris Saint-Germain (1-3)!
Neymar shook the net in the 88th minute of play in this second period and allowed his teammates to take the lead in this duel against Maccabi Haifa FC. From his half of the field, Verratti sees that Neymar has been forgotten on the left by Seck and serves him with a marvelous opening in the back of the Israeli defense. The Brazilian goes alone to challenge Cohen and deceive him with coldness. The counters show 1 to 3 at the Sammy Ofer Stadium!
22:46 – Chery far above
Chery takes it upon himself to execute the free kick he obtained but he is less successful than on his goal. His shot from the left goes well over Donnarumma’s goal.
22:45 – Free kick for Maccabi Haifa
On a counter, Pierrot brings the ball up on the left before trying to cross on the opposite side. Marquinhos diverts but the ball returns to Chery at the entrance to the area. The first scorer of the evening is retained by Verratti who offers a well-placed free kick from 20 meters.
22:44 – Neymar in the wall
At 25 meters, slightly shifted to the left, Neymar takes the free kick but fails to lift his ball enough which hits the wall.
22:43 – Hakimi enters… under the whistles
Hakimi appears on the pitch in the 83rd minute. The Moroccan side enters under the heavy whistles of the Sammy-Ofer stadium, as was the case in Tel Aviv during the Champions Trophy.
22:42 – The match temporarily stopped
The match is stopped a handful of seconds after a supporter finds a way to enter the lawn. He was quickly brought under control by the security service, under the whistles of the Sammy-Ofer stadium.
22:41 – Misunderstanding on the right
Sergio Ramos picks up the ball on the right and wants to shift Mukiele who accompanies him but the Spaniard is too late and his teammate, offside, cuts his effort when the pass is made.
22:40 – On a gentle slope
Since the second Parisian goal, the match has lost intensity. While the Israelis feel the blow physically, the Parisians put their foot on the ball and put the game to sleep in the hope of retaining the victory.
22:37 – Pierrot takes a yellow
In the duel with Marquinhos, Pierrot elbows but in the face of the Parisian defender who collapses. No bad gesture but a logical yellow card issued against the former Guingampais.