PSG wins but Mbappé loses

Media365 editorial staff, published on Wednesday 01 February 2023 at 22:58

If PSG went ahead and closed the gap by dominating Montpellier (3-1), Kylian Mbappé went off injured.

Is 2023 a cursed year for Paris Saint-Germain? Already beaten by Racing Club de Lens and Stade Rennais, then held back last Sunday on their turf by Stade de Reims, PSG had a difficult evening, despite a success that allowed them to consolidate their leadership. In the aftermath of a last failed evening in the market, with in particular the fiasco of Hakim Ziyech, the Parisians gave up on Mosson.

Already deprived of Neymar, lump sum due to muscle fatigue, the concern concerns the state of health of Kylian Mbappé. The French international had a nightmarish night… However, everything could have started perfectly. From the 11th minute, Kylian Mbappé had the opportunity to open the scoring from a penalty caused by Sergio Ramos, after a collision by Christopher Jullien. Already decisive in this exercise in Auxerre on the final day, Benjamin Lecomte relaxed well to fend off Kylian Mbappé’s attempt, but Mr. Pignard reported that the Montpellier residents entered the box too early. The Parisian number 7 thus obtains a recovery. This time he chooses the right side, but Lecomte deflects the ball onto his post, then Mbappé misses the inevitable into an empty net, hitting above! Unusual !

Christophe Galtier looks grey, but the worst was about to come… 21st minute into the game, Kylian Mbappé winces and goes to the ground holding his left thigh. Muscle injury and verdict awaited with fear, two weeks before the round of 16 first leg against Bayern Munich! Sometimes, one card can hide another… A few minutes later, Sergio Ramos was also forced to give up his seat, due to pain in his adductors. Parisian fans found a semblance of smile when Lionel Messi opened the scoring (36th). Yes but no… The Argentine had his goal disallowed, with a subtle lob, by the VAR for offside position after Achraf Hakimi’s cross. Montpellier is fine and happy to enter the locker room with a level score (0-0). The Héraultais, left 4 losses and 1 draw in their last 5 receptions, will not have been able to create a clear opportunity in the first period.

Zaire-Emery in history

Lionel Messi, scorer of nine goals at Mosson, will continue to take matters into his own hands. It is he who will shake the outside of the Montpellier net with a powerful shot (47th), but it is Achraf Hakimi who lights up the evening with a monstrous shot into the Lecomte skylight (54th). Except that an offside by Ruiz is signaled by the VAR at the start of the action. Two minutes later, Fabian Ruiz will open the scoring after a duel lost by Hakimi and a header from Hugo Ekitike (0-1, 56′). Stephy Mavididi finally worries Gianluigi Donnarumma with a cross (72nd), but the recovery in the Hérault will be short-lived. In the process, Lionel Messi made the break from an offer from Fabian Ruiz (0-2, 73rd). Warren Zaire-Emery and Lionel Messi are still looking for the excellent Lecomte (76th and 87th) who will have avoided a bigger defeat for his family.

Still, Montpellier will believe for a few minutes in a possible draw. Arnaud Nordin reduced the scoring with a nice shot from the left, with, originally, a big mistake by Juan Bernat, too much on this shot (1-2, 90th). Then Stephy Mavididi could have overturned Mosson without Hakimi’s toe who deflected the Englishman’s shot into the small goal from the outside (91 ‘). Finally, Warren Zaire-Emery will crucify the MHSC, all alone as a big man (1-3, 94th). On the counterattack, he scored with a powerful shot and became the youngest goalscorer in PSG history at the age of 16!

Despite the three points and a confirmed leadership position (5 points ahead of Olympique de Marseille and 6 points over RC Lens), Paris Saint-Germain cannot be happy with a night in which they lost Kylian Mbappé and Sergio Ramos . It remains to be seen how long these two executives will be out and could miss the Champions League match.