PSG 1-1 Benfica HIGHLIGHTS, Champions League: Honours even as Mbappe and Joao Mario score from the spot

A similar story as the last week’s match in Lisbon. PSG opened its account with Mbappe slotting the ball from the 12-yard spot. It seemed like PSG might see off any threat and take the three points until a Verratti tackle gave away a penalty to the visitor. Joao Mario stepped up to draw level. The game was played at a slightly simmered pace from thereon and the two team settled for a draw. Mbappe did score a second but that was ruled offside. The two remain locked at eight points from four games and have played two consecutive draws in two weeks. They are prime contenders to make it to the last 16 with Juventus and Maccabi Haifa on three points each.

PSG with one last attempt to create something but the Benfica defence stands resolute and clears all attempts as the referee calls the game to an end.

PSG gets a free-kick and Neymar crosses it in. The ball is cleared but finds Ruiz. The midfielder connects the half volley but the shot is blocked by Enzo.

Mbappe was seen struggling with his left knee and Galtier decides to bring him off. No chances before the crucial match against Marseille.

Neymar and Hakimi combine with a one-two and the Brazilian’s pass sends Hakimi on a run in the box. He is able to complete the cross only to find a Benfica defender clear the danger.

Ecstacy turns into agony for PSG. Mbappe finds the net with a volley but the forward was offside.

Mbappe skips past Gilberto on the left wing and the defender lunges to stop him at the last moment but he is too late. Referee shows a yellow card.

A beautifully worked move by Benfica. The ball moves into the PSG penalty area from the right and Draxler, who has just come on, collects it. A couple of PSG shirts dive in front of him as he dummies a shot. He skips further right and then fakes again to move to his left. He completes the shot but a PSG player manages to get a leg in between.

PSG works the ball in a net set of play and Mbappe ends up with the ball on the left flank. He tries to skip past Gilberto but the defender gets a foot in and concedes a corner.

The Italian tries to prevent the ball from going out of play and makes a back pass to Marquihos. But he overhits the ball and Aursnes is nearly able to pounce on it and go through on goal. The Italian looks nervous after his error to concede the penalty.

The righ-back with a sumptous cross but Mbappe kind of held his ground and missed the ball. It takes a touch from Benfica player and goes out for a throw-in.

The midfielder lunges out a tackle on Neymar and is late. The referee has no hesitation in taking the player’s name into the book.

The PSG forward puts his head down and charges forward with the ball. He starts from his own box and nearly foxes two shirts in Benfica’s penalty area. A timely intercpetion sends the ball out for a corner which Benfica is able to defend.

Joao Mario slots the ball straight into the top net. And Benfica is back in the contest. A needless challenge by Verratti and the visitor is back in the contest. Just like last week, Benfica draws level.

The midfielder goes down on the edge of the box and stays down. Benfica hits the ball out of play and the referee is advised to get a look on the VAR monitor. Verratti indeed catches his foot and a penalty is given to Benfica.

Neymar gets the ball nearly 25 yards from goal and he sees Mbappe rushing ahead in front of him. He plays a pass that is aimed at the French striker’s path but a Benfica player pops up just in time to stop it.

Aursnes and Grimaldo combine on the left which ends up with the left-back taking a crack at goal. The shot is aimed nearly in the right direction. The ball hits the side netting and goes out for a goal kick.

PSG switches play with great effect and the ball is with Mbappe on the left flank. He takes two steps forward, cuts in and launches a curling effort aimed at the far post. The ball is inches wide as the Frenchman stands in disbelief.

Neymar plays the ball around a number of Benfica shirts. He plays to Vitinha. The Portuguese tries to play Hakimi but the ball is intercepted. Had that pass been completed Hakimi could have got a chance for a great cross.

Aursnes tries a cross into the box which is intercepted and allows PSG to counter attack. Mbappe sets up Neymar and the Brazilian passes to Hakimi on the right. The Morocco international is stopped and the attack ends.

And Benfica kicks the ball to start the second half. It has all to do here at the Parc des Princes.

We’re nearly ready for the second 45 minutes as Mbappe’s penalty seperates the two sides.

The visiting team has looked confident for a major part of the half but have lacked the end product. The same can be said for PSG who has entred the Benfica penalty area but has not shown much creativity. It was an Mbappe spot kick that got the home side in the lead in the 40th minute.

The Benfica player commits a foul and is cautioned with a yellow card. Neymar takes the free-kick but the referee blows the half-time whistle.

Benfica tries to build an attack from the right but the right-back’s cross into the box has too much behind it and goes out of play.

Neymar first takes the ball over Florentino’s head. He then has one-two before he cuts the ball back from a Benfica player. who is only able to foul him while attempting to win the ball back.

Marco Verratti is able to turn from Mario and make his way forward when the Benfica midfielder lashes from behind and brings him down. Yellow card given.

Mbappe slots the ball home. The result was never in doubt. He places the ball into the left corner and the home side takes the lead.

PSG has a chance to score. Verratti threads a precise through pass to Bernat. Bernat is in the penalty area when Antonio Silva lashes out at the ball but catches the foot of the rushing left-back. Michael Oliver takes a moment and points to the spot.

Neymar dribbles the ball away from multiple red shirts in the middle of the park and plays the ball to Mbappe on the left. Mbappe crosses but the attempt is blocked and PSG gets a corner.

PSG builds and attack with Neymar steaming forward from his own half. He plays it to Mbappe and runs into the box. Mbappe crosses in, Neymar collects and passes to Sarabia on the right. The Spain international shoots but the effort is too weak and Vlachodimos easily collects.

Danilo plays a back pass to the PSG keeper who is pressed by Ramos. Donnarumms is unable to sort his feet out and has to play the ball out and give a throw-in to Benfica. Thankfully for PSG, no harm done.

Neymar whips the ball into the box from the left side and Sarabia is in the six-yard box. He moves ahead of the ball and tries a daring bicycle kick only to hit Grimaldo’s head. The referee dishes out a yellow card for dangerous play.

The home side has seen more of the ball but apart from a couple of runs into the penalty area it has not threatened the Benfica goal.

PSG builds another attack with Sarabia opening up Neymar on the left. Neymar plays the ball in-behind for Mbappe but the pass is too far left and Otamendi covers the angle and Mbappe has to play the ball out again. He gets a return pass but is caught offside.

Enzo Fernandes loses the ball for Benfica and Mbappe is on his way to goal. He is confronted by Otamendi who is beaten but leaves a trailing leg as Mbappe skips past him. An easy decision for the referee. The free-kick is within scoring range but Mbappe’s effort strikes the wall.

Benfica builds an attack with Joao Mario making a run in-behind. The pass goes to Ramos who tries a cheeky flick which is blocked by his namesake Sergio Ramos. The play is stopped, however, due Mario being in an offside position.

Rafa Silva has a shot at goal but he’s put too much behind the shot and the ball goes flying over the crossbar.

PSG wins the ball back and Neymar is trying to control the ball before he is fouled by a Benfica player.

Joao Mario has the ball on the right flank. But he is marked by Danilo Pereira and he is all over him. Pereira allows no room and takes the ball away. The ball, however, rolls out for a Benfica throw-in.

Bernat and Mbappe combine on the left before the ball goes to Verratti. The Italian hoists the ball for an overhead pass to Mbappe but the Frenchman is unabale to collect it. The ball runs out for a goal kick.

Mbappe breaks into a run from the left flank. He gets an entry into the box but he blocked before he can take a shot.

After intial jitters, PSG has gained control and strung together a few passes. No danger for Benfica, though.

The midfielder breaks away into a run and is threatening to build an attack before he his brought down. Free-kick for PSG.

The Brazil forward gets a chance to stretch his legs and make a run. He carries the ball a good 30 yards before his pass to the centre of the field in intercepted.

The Portuguese side has shown intent in the opening minutes of the game. It has taken the attack and the game has been majorly played in the PSG half.

We’re underway at Parc des Princes. Kylian Mbappe gets the match underway. Michael Oliver is the man in-charge for the game.

The teams line up near the touch line for a photograph followed by the flip of the coin in the middle. The PSG fans hoist a big hoarding at one of the stands, prompting their team for a win tonight.

The anthem loved by one and all echoes through the Prac des Princes as the camera captures the emotions of the players before Kick Off.

The players are making their way to the tunnel. Kylian Mbappe is all smiles as he greets his teammates before they walk out to the middle. Otamendi to lead the Portuguese side tonight.

“I am with Kylian Mbappe everyday, he has never talked to me about leaving,” said Luis Campos.

Maccabi Haifa beat Juventus at its home in the other Grou H match. With the result, both sides sit with three points. If either of PSG or Benfica loses tonight, they might have a window to sneak in to the Round of 16. Else, it is likely to be a scrap for a Europa League place.

The match will Kick Off at 8:00 PM BST or 12:30 AM IST.

While PSG settled for a goalless draw in its away match to Reims, Benfica won against Rio Ave.

Reims 0-0 PSG

Benfica 4-2 Rio Ave

Played - 3, PSG - 1, Benfica -1, Drawn -1

Both PSG and Benfica have been dominating their respective leagues. PSG is top of Ligue 1 with eight wins and two draws. Benfica has won eight out of its nine matches and leads the Primeira Liga.

PSG: Donnarumma - Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos - Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat - Sarabia, Mbappe, Neymar

Benfica: Vlachodimos - Bah, A. Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo - Florentino, Fernandez - Aursens, R. Silva, Mario - Ramos

Meanwhile, Juventus is losing its match against Maccabi Haifa. A loss will lower the Italian side’s chances of making it to the knockout stage.

The lineups for the match are expected to be released shortly. Lionel Messi, who missed the weekend trip to Reims, is out for another match with a calf injury.

The rumour mill has shaken Paris Saint Germain today with reports emerging that Kylian Mbappe, just five months after his contract extension, wants to leave.

1. PSG - Played 3, Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 0, Points 7
2. Benfica - Played 3, Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 0, Points 7
3. Juventus - Played 3, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Points 3
4. Maccabi Haifa - Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Points 0

PSG vs Benfica will kick-off at 8:00 PM BST/ 12.30 AM IST on Wednesday.

PSG vs Benfica 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.

A replay of last week’s fixture, PSG and Benfica will again face each other with the aim of moving to the top of Group H with a clear point advantage.

Currently, both teams have seven points but PSG sits at first place by virtue of more goals scored. In the previous meeting, Lionel Messi got Paris ahead in the match before a Danilo Pereira own goal rescued a point for the Lisbon-based club.

Messi will be out of action this time as he still recovers a calf injury. The same injury ruled him out of the weekend trip to Reims where PSG settled for a goalless draw. This was the first match that the Argentine missed this season, as well as the first time Paris failed to score.

Benfica continued its dominance Primeira Liga with a 4-2 win over Rio Ave. It sits top of the table with 25 points from nine matches.