PSG-Juventus. Imperial in the first period with two goals from Mbappé, then sluggish in the second, Paris Saint-Germain offered a deserved success against a disappointing Juventus Turin on the first day of the Champions League (2-1).
23:40 – Thank you and good evening to all
Thank you all for following us for this victory of PSG against Juventus at the start of the European season. World Cup obliges, the Champions League calendar has been tightened and it will not be necessary to wait two but a week to attend the second day. Paris Saint-Germain will go to Israel in eight days to challenge Maccabi Haifa at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
11:35 p.m. – Galtier: “An important victory”
“There is relief. We had a great first half, even though we conceded a chance. From the moment we took the goal, we suffered and that gave hope to the opponent. C “It’s an important victory. PSG had never won against Juventus (8 defeats and 2 draws). We won in difficulty, and winning in difficulty makes a team grow.”noted a lucid Christophe Galtier on the performance of his players but satisfied with the final result for this first day of the Champions League, against an opponent, who he recalled had never succeeded at PSG.
23:31 – Benfica also winner
In the other Group H game, Benfica Lisbon got rid of Maccabi Haifa. At home, the Portuguese won 2 goals to 0 with an assist and a magnificent goal from Grimaldo. This success allows them to take the lead of the group in front of PSG, on goal difference.
23:15 – A Paris with two faces provides the essentials
What to remember from an evening that had started so well and which certainly ended with a victory but could have turned sour in a botched second act. Because if Paris provided the essentials by dominating Juventus Turin at the Parc des Princes, it will have shown a double face that we did not know about it this season. A disturbing double face suggesting new flaws, after those brought to light by the Monegasque commitment. This time, PSG showed a form of sufficiency, letting themselves be lulled by a much inferior but formidable opponent when it comes to killing the rhythm of a meeting that escapes them.
Indeed, for almost half an hour, the Turin club was dizzy, like so many others before it. In a stadium delighted to find the air of the Champions League, the Parisians did not make way to greet the Old Lady. Barely 5 minutes into the game and Neymar with a delicious ladle served Mbappé in the box. The latter, dirty rascal that he is, adjusted Perin with a perfect cross volley. A first flash followed by a second after a splendid action with a touch of the ball with Verratti then Hakimi, concludes on the other side, on the right, with another cross volley. Without forcing his talent, PSG had just had to accelerate when he wanted to stun an Old Lady who was atrociously her age, like Cuadrado, overtaken on the right side, or Bonucci, short of rhythm.
We said to ourselves that the bill was going to get even tougher, to reach the house price, but here we are, Paris has flaws. Inexplicably, the Parisians returned from the locker room without envy, as if the hardest part had been done and it was enough to control. The races were fewer, the choices less fair and in this mush Juventus had fun creating trouble. A first alert on an uncrossed header from Vlahovic, well out by Donnarumma, decisive as in the first period when he diverted a point-blank header from Milik, preceded the inevitable. On a corner played by two, McKennie passed over Nuno Mendes and cut off a cross from Kostic, badly appreciated by the Italian goalkeeper and Marquinhos, and brought his people within reach. Neymar and Mbappe had the opportunity to take the break but nothing helped and the threat persisted until the end in a strange second period where Paris will have been put to sleep. Never before this season, PSG had displayed this face, he who had shown himself conqueror and virtuous in the commitment. A first free warning which should not hide however that the champions of France won. Sometimes you have to settle for the essentials, win without flamboyance but win. It’s never easy to start your season in the Champions League. We will remember that Paris and Mbappé have done it.
23:03 – Vitinha: “Keep improving”
“We were better in the first half and we have to be able to do better overall. In the second half we should have controlled the game better but it shouldn’t be given too much importance. We won and we have to keep improving”explained Vitinha, who did not want to dwell on the lack of evening PSG.
11:00 p.m. – Mbappé: “Happy to win the match”
“There is a difference between the first and second half. We knew we still had a few shortcomings to work on but we are happy to win the match. We know where we are going”reacted hot Mbappé, aware of the current shortcomings of PSG but happy to have been able to offer victory to his team with his double.
22:59 – City, the last Parisian executioner
Paris Saint-Germain were playing only their third home game of the season. If he has conceded 3 draws in his last five receptions, PSG has not been beaten at the Parc des Princes since April 28…2021 and the arrival of Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Champions League (1-2) , a series of 27 consecutive matches in all competitions (24 wins and 3 draws).
22:51 – PSG provides the essentials at home (2-1)!
Thanks to a double from Mbappé, still as decisive and decisive, Parsi Saint-Germain won for the first time in its history against Juventus Turin and started its Champions League campaign well (2-1). Sharp in the first period, however, PSG got scared when they returned from the locker room in a second act where they lost their momentum, put to sleep by a limited but crafty Old Lady. More fear than harm in an evening where we will retain victory above all.
22:51 – Paris in management
The Parisians circulate the ball and manage the last seconds in the last 30 meters of Juventus Turin. The end of the match and victory are near.
22:50 – Additional time: 3 minutes
There will be three minutes of additional time in this first Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus Turin.
22:48 – Neymar takes too long
Neymar leads the Parisian counter but rather than giving Mbappé deep, he waits, carries the ball to the edge of the area to fix the opposing defense. He finally served the Frenchman but the latter was flagged offside. Without regret since he hadn’t deceived Perin.
22:48 – Perin intervenes in front of Neymar
Magnificent save from Perin who fends off a powerful volley from Neymar with his legs at the penalty spot.
22:46 – Verratti on the bench
Third change for Paris Saint-Germain with the replacement of Verratti by Renato Sanches. There are 3 minutes left in regulation time. On the Turin side, Rabiot also comes out, under the whistles, in favor of Kean, a former Parisian too.
22:45 – Neymar shoots over
At 20 meters, slightly to the right, Neymar rolls over the wall but his ball does not come down and does not worry Perin.
22:44 – Soler gets a free kick
At 20 meters, Soler inherits the ball with his back to goal and gets a foul from Rabiot, impatient behind his back. Good free kick for PSG.
22:42 – Messi comes out
6 minutes from the end of regulation time, Messi leaves the lawn. The Argentinian is replaced by Carlos Soler, who is living his first minutes with Paris Saint-Germain, he who arrived in the last hours of the transfer window from Valencia.
22:39 – Fright on the Parisian goal
PSG was once again very scared in this second period. On a cross from the right, Mukiele gets a hole. Kostic takes advantage of this and backs Locatelli. The latter controls at 6 meters but slips when cocking. Donnarumma made a first save, then a second as the Italian pulled away to save the goal kick for a new cross. Big scare for PSG, not immune to a Turin return.
22:37 – Two changes for PSG
PSG’s first two changes came in the 78th minute. Christophe Galtier recalls Vitinha, less prominent in the second act, and Hakimi to the bench in order to launch Danilo and Mukiele on the field.
22:35 – Vlahovic, not dangerous
In a backward position, Rabiot rolls from the left into the area and finds Vlahovic’s header. The latter fails to put power to his ball which goes into a bell. Kostic pulls away to avoid the goal kick. The ball is messed up until it reaches Locatelli at the head of the area but whose volley is not on target.
22:33 – New change for Juve
Third change for Juventus Turin. In difficulty on his right side against Nuno Mendes and Neymar, Cuadrado gives way to De Siglio. There are still 15 minutes left in this match against Paris Saint-Germain.
22:31 – Danilo takes a yellow
Right side, Mbappé plays in deflection and projects in depth. Late, Danilo hangs on the Parisian who collapses. The referee shows the yellow for this act of anti-game.
22:29 – Good reading from Locatelli
Nuno Mendes overflows on the left and crosses well back. He saw Messi who retreated in the center of the goal but Locatelli read the situation and tackled with accuracy to prevent the ball from reaching the former Barcelona player.
22:28 – Still no change in Paris
With only 20 minutes left to play, Christophe Galtier made no changes. The Parisian technician seems satisfied with his men and does not want to disturb the organization put in place.