Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of Benfica vs PSG Champions League Group H match.
The referee blows the whistle after Benfica’s free-kick is collected by Donnarumma. There are tempers flaring in the middle. The commotion started by an argument between the PSG keeper and a Benfica player. Neymar gets involved too. Slightly frustrating for PSG as it had chances and possession to take three points home. Benfica too was in the confident and was denied a win only because of some splendid saves by Donnarumma. The two take one point from the game and now have seven points from three matches. Both teams are still the prime contenders to make it to the knockouts even after Juventus beat Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in the other Group H match. That’s it from this match. See you for game week four of the Champions League group stage next week.
PSG wins a corner from an Mbappe attack. The set-piece is cleared but Fabian Ruiz tries a long-range effort which goes flying over the goalpost.
Benfica Substitution - 90+1’
PSG builds an attack but Benfica clears and launches a counter. Rafa Silva is clear and trying to make a heroic solo run to the goal. Donnarumma spots the danger and steps out of his box to clear any threats.
PSG Substitution - 87’
Neymar and Mbappe play a one-two move. Neymar gets the ball but his back its turned towards the goal. He tries to turn around but is unable to sort the ball out at his feet. The ball is cleared and Benfica survives.
Another chance missed by PSG. Mbappe cuts in into the opposition penalty area from the left side. He plays it sqaure and the ball is in Neymar’s reach to shoot. The Brazilian decides to go for dummy, hoping Hakimi takes the shot behind him. The full back is however already past the line of the ball and the attack fizzles out into a throw in for Benfica.
PSG Substitution - 81’
How did that stay out? Rafa Silva is lying on the ground is disbelief, and it is Donnarumma’s brilliance that saves PSG. Rafa Silva wins the ball from Verratti and charges forward. He skips past Marquinhos and shoots but the PSG custodian crouches low and saves the shot.
Bernat and Mbappe combine on the left flank and the forward finds himself in the penalty area. He plays it across the face of the goal hoping for a third PSG shirt but there is no one and the ball is cleared.
Benfica Substitution - 78’
Verratti loses the ball to Enzo Fernandes. The midfielder launches a counter attack and is almost inside the PSG penalty area but Danilo is able to get a foot in and prevent the move from developing further.
A sublime save by Vlachodimos! Messi orchestrates another move and he darts across the midfield having beaten two Benfica players. He passes to Mbappe near the box who takes the curling shot. The ball is destined to land in the right corner of the goal but the Benfica custodian somehow flies across to save it.
PSG Substitution - 67’
Inches wide! That missed by a whisker. Benfica free-kick is taken from the right and Otamendi charges at the near post. The ball brushes his shoulder and misses the far post by the barest of margins.
A dangerous free-kick for Benfica! The home side is through on a counter. Neres plays the ball to Rafa Silva on the right flank when Neymar catches the midfielder. Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes is down and clutching his hamstring as the medical staff tends to the fullback.
Messi dashes across the field with a run and beats multiple Benfica players. He then passes to Hakimi who is waiting on the right side of the penalty area. Hakimi strikes with his right foot and Vlachodimos has to bend down to save it.
Neymar wins a free-kick on the left. Messi takes it and whips a cross into the six-yard box. Ramos is there to connect but mistimes his header and the chance goes begging.
Neymar comes close to scoring! PSG wins another free-kick, this time in the attacking half. Neymar takes the attempt and forces the save from Vlachodimos. Mendes fights for the loose ball and wins a corner.
A free-kick for PSG! Paris continues to build attack from the back. Ramos passes to Messi who is dropping back to support play. He is pressured by Florentino but the Argentine puts his body in between the ball and wins a free-kick.
Neymar hits the crossbar! PSG builds an attack from the left with Nuno Mendes crossing the ball in. Hakimi shoots with his left foot and the attempt is saved. Neymar gets the second ball but it pops up after the Brazilian touches it. He acrobatically tries a bicycle kick which hits the cross bar and goes out of play.
A semi-opportunity for PSG. Messi makes a run from the centre field and looks to play a through ball to Mbappe ahead of him. The ball is intercepted. Messi makes a dash to challenge for the ball but Benfica manages to clear it.
Referee blows the whistle and we’re underway for what promises to be an exciting period of play.
Players make their way onto the pitch for the second half of the match. Benfica will start the proceedings.
The first-half comes to a close. This has been a slightly cagey game. Benfica certainly had the better chances and failed to convert. This was largely due to Donnarumma’s brilliant saves on three occasions. Messi put PSG in lead with a left-footed strike from the edge of Benfica penalty area. PSG gained momentum after the goal and looked set to end the half with a lead until Danilo own goal gave Benfica the goal it deserved. Nicely set for the second half. Back in 15 minutes.
Verratti is fouled and is crying in pain. Replays show Enzo Fernandes stamped on the Italian’s leg. PSG players argue with the referee for a stricter action than a yellow card.
Benfica 1-1 PSG - Danilo OG 41’
Benfica has struck! After multiple misses it finds the net. The score is 1-1 and its a Danilo own goal that levels the affair.
Benfica with another shot! Donnarumma bails out PSG for the third time on the night. Benfica wins a corner and is able to keep the ball in the PSG penalty area even after the clearance. The ball lands up at a Benfica player’s feet and he shoots. Donnarumma stretches his hands over his head to make the save.
PSG is gaining confidence. The team is building play via close-range one-two pass moves and Benfica has not seen the ball for a long time now.
Hakimi misses a header! Mbappe crosses from the left side and Hakimi, out of all people, is there in the six-yard box. The Moroccon is able to jump above the defender but fails to get the shot on target.
PSG tries to enter the opposition penalty area but the Benfica defence bullies the likes of Neymar and Vitinha to secure its territory. Vitinha lets one go from a long distance but the shot is bang in the middle of the goal. A comfortable save for Vlachodimos.
PSG makes another entry into the Benfica penalty area. This time it is Neymar who charges with the ball from the left flank. He plays it to Mendes whose cross is blocked. Mbappe is there to collect the second ball but is unable to break past the defence.
Benfica continues to make inroads with its relentless aggressive play. The game has been played in the PSG half for a major part of the first-half but the Portuguese side has not been able to convert its two big chances.
Benfica 0-1 PSG - Messi 22’
Messi puts the visitors in the lead! Benfica 0-1 PSG.
Another save by Donnarumma! PSG was opened up. Joao Mario plays a delightful through ball to David Neres who runs between Mendes and Pereira. The shot is on and Donnarumma dives to his right to steer the ball clear of goal.
Mbappe is fouled near the Benfica penalty area by Otamendi. Messi steps to take the free-kick but his attempt hits the wall.
Shot by Matia Ramos! Benfica has made its intent clear. It has started on an aggressive note. Messi slips and gives away the possession. Ramos collects the gift, runs 10 yards and takes a shot. Donnarumma is able to block the attempt.
SAVE by Donnarumma! Goncalo Ramos breaks away on a run and beats Marquinhos. He has a sight at goal but Donnarumma saves with his left leg.
PSG look nervy at the back. MArquinhos and Ramos yet again try to play the ball from the back. The Brazilian’s back pass to Donnarumma is nearly intercepted in the PSG penalty area. The Italian keeper is just about able to reach the ball in time and clear.
Corner for PSG! A fluent attack by the Paris outfit. Messi passes the ball to Neymar from the centre of the field. Neymar gives it Mbappe on the right who tries to work something of the situation and wins a corner.
Neymar fouled! PSG start from the back. Benfica tries to press but PSG is able to find its way out. Neymar is steering clear with the ball until Enzo Fernandez brings him down.
The match is underway. PSG takes the centre kick and get the contest to start.
The players stand at the centre circle to observe a minute’s silence in remembrance of the tragedy in Indonesia last week.
Otamendi and Marquinhos walk out to the centre line to join the referee for the toss. PSG seems to have won and chosen the side it wants to attack in the first half.
Players make their way to the pitch and walk out from the tunnel. The Estadio Lisboa is decked up in support of the home team.
We’re just minutes away from the start of the match.
Paris Saint Germain won its weekend fixture against OGC Nice 2-1 with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe scoring. Benfica on the other hand was held to a goalless draw when it visited Vitoria SC. This halted its winning run in the Portuguese league.
The teams have faced each other twice in the Champions League during the 2013/14 group stage. Paris Saint Germain won the first match 3-0, while the return fixture went 2-1 Benfica’s way.
Paris will be banking on Kylian Mbappe to fire tonight. The French international has scored three goals in the Champions League, the joint-highest with Haaland and Lewandowski.
Both teams have won their opening two fixtures in Champions League this season. The winner from today’s match will take the outright lead on nine points and will be nearly through to the last 16 of the competition.
| Teams | Matches | Points | Goal Difference |
| Paris Saint Germain | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Benfica | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Juventus | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| Maccabi Haifa | 2 | 0 | -4 |
Benfica : Vlachodimos - Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo - Florentino, Fernandez - Neres, Rafa Silva, Mario - Ramos
PSG : Donnarumma - Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos - Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes - Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
The big three frontline of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe starts for the Parisian outfit. Ramos also finds a place in the starting XI. For Benfica, Matias Ramos leads the frontline with David Neres and Rafa Silva in the midfield.
The playing XI for today’s game is expected to be released in the next 15 minutes. Stay tuned for more updates.
PREVIEW
Paris Saint Germain, riding high on its near-perfect start to the season will look to stay on course when it faces Benfica in Group H.
Sitting on top of the Ligue 1, PSG comes to the match on the back of a 2-1 win over OGC Nice. It would also take positive from the fact that Messi scored in successive appearances for the club and has reclaim the form that he seemed to have missed last season.
Mbappe, too, was on the scoresheet against Nice and is the leading goal scorer in the Champions League so far.
For Benfica, the challenge is tough, but not improbable. The Lisbon-based club beat Juventus in the previous game week and is in a rich vein of form. Benfica, just like PSG, has won both its games in the Champions League so far.
It has also seen a strong start in the Portuguese league and has won seven out of its eight matches. In the duration, it has scored 19 goals and conceded just 3.
A win against PSG will cement the club’s place on top of Group H and help its bid to advance to the knockouts.
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
Benfica vs PSG will kick-off at 8:00 PM BST/ 12.30 AM IST on Thursday.
Benfica vs PSG UEFA Champions League match will be telecast live across the Sony Sports Network in India. The match will also be live streamed on Sony LIV.
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