Mbappe escapes Real’s grip to save day
In the first half Zinedine Zidane wrapped his arms around Kylian Mbappe as the forward ran into the technical area and did not look like he wanted to let go. Having already spoken of how he “loves” the Paris St-germain striker, and clearly wants to bring him to the Bernabeu, the Real Madrid coach will have wished he kept his grip as Mbappe eventually inspired the most unlikely of comebacks after his side had been utterly dominated.
Two Karim Benzema goals – and a superb performance from Eden Hazard, his best since joining Real from Chelsea in the summer – were cancelled out as Mbappe struck his 70th goal in 100 appearances for PSG to give the French champions hope when hope there was none. Three minutes later they were level and had won their Champions League group with Mbappe almost winning the match as he struck the side-netting in injury time.
It felt as if it would be Hazard’s night, before he was substituted after suffering a worrying ankle injury, with Zidane hailing his performance as “amazing”. It also could have belonged to the man who replaced him, Gareth Bale. With almost the last act, Bale bent a superb free-kick from 25 yards that cannoned back off a post.
It is no leap to suggest that Zidane would like to replace Bale with Mbappe, still just 20, who has now scored away in European competitions at Real, both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Juventus and Bayern Munich. And to think he was far from his best. “It is his job. He had to score and he did that. There’s nothing else to say,” said a rueful Zidane, who expressed his concern over the injury to Hazard, who lit up this tie and even managed to nutmeg referee Artur Dias in the middle of one of his thrilling runs – which ended with Benzema’s first goal. PSG coach Thomas Tuchel did not start with Neymar, which always causes a fuss, but he came on at half time to play in midfield.
“No, I’m not afraid of that,” Tuchel said when asked whether leaving out Neymar was the kind of decision that could lead the Brazilian to – again – wanting out. “I don’t think we are going to lose Neymar. He’s been absent for six weeks and only played one match before this and it was not necessary to take this risk. We don’t want him injured.”
That Real, who produced their best display since winning the Champions League in 2017, did not collect all three points was astonishing and owed much to a brilliant display by their former goalkeeper Keylor Navas. He remains a popular figure at Real despite thwarting Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, Isco and Benzema.
In the other goal it was not a great evening for Thibaut Courtois who was shown a red card and appeared to concede a penalty, after rushing from his goal to bring down Mauro Icardi, but was reprieved when both decisions were overturned after a video assistant referee intervention for what appeared a marginal foul by Idrissa Gueye. Courtois was at fault with Raphael Varane as they allowed a cross to reach Mbappe, who bundled the ball home from close range.
Before the goal Real had been dominant. They were in Kroos control with the German running midfield and Hazard creating panic. Benzema’s first goal came after he steered in a rebound when a shot by Isco, a surprise inclusion, came back off a post. His second arrived when he met a Marcelo cross to take his Champions League total to 64 – with only three players having scored more.
Surely that, and Hazard, would be the story? But it all changed with
Mbappe’s predatory intervention with Neymar then dribbling forward to find Juan Bernat. Mbappe cleverly stepped over his cross and Neymar also let it run to substitute Pablo Sarabia, who sent the ball first time high into the roof of the net. “They played like a team who won the Champions League four times in five years,” Tuchel said of Real. Remarkably they did. But PSG have Mbappe. For now at least.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois 5; Carvajal 6, Ramos 6, Varane 6, Marcelo 7; Valverde 8 (Modric 77), Casemiro 7, Kroos 8, Isco 7 (Rodrygo 82), Benzema 8, Hazard 9 (Bale 69). Subs Areola (g), Militao, Jovic, Mendy. Booked Marcelo
Paris St-germain (4-3-3): Navas 9; Meunier 7, Thiago Silva 6, Kimpembe 6, Bernat 6; Gueye 5 (Neymar 46), Marquinhos 6, Verratti 7; Di Maria 6 (Draxler 76), Icardi 6 (Sarabia 76), Mbappe 7. Subs Rico (g), Cavani, Diallo, Dagba. Booked Meunier
Referee Artur Dias (Portugal)