As reports emerged today that PSG’s superstar forward Kylian Mbappe wants to leave the club in January – a broken relationship with the board being cited as the reason – the 23-year-old made history with his first-half penalty: becoming the French champions’ highest-scoring player in the Champions League during their 1-1 Group H draw against Benfica earlier tonight.
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Tag: Kylian Mbappe
Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title
It felt fitting that, eight years after suffering stoppage-time heartbreak against Real with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Thibaut Courtois was Los Blancos’ impenetrable wall here, defiantly stifling Liverpool throughout – breaking the record for most saves in a Champions League Final with nine, producing greatness with the lights shining brightest on a career-defining night. Continue reading “Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title”
Real Madrid (3) 3-1 (2) PSG: Benzema’s second-half hat-trick secures unlikely comeback
Karim Benzema’s 17-minute hat-trick sent the Bernabeu into raptures, as Real Madrid produced the seemingly improbable: recovering from 1-0 down on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate, stunning PSG to progress into the Champions League quarter-finals. The visitors, ahead after Kylian Mbappe’s near-post finish six minutes before half-time, capitulated again. Continue reading “Real Madrid (3) 3-1 (2) PSG: Benzema’s second-half hat-trick secures unlikely comeback”
PSG 1-0 Real Madrid: Mbappe’s stoppage-time magic sinks Los Blancos in tense first leg
Kylian Mbappe scored his second stoppage-time winner in four days, ensuring PSG hold a slender first leg lead in their Champions League last-16 clash with La Liga leaders Real Madrid. The visitors defended stoutly with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing saves galore – including a Lionel Messi penalty – but had no chance stopping a magical moment at the death.
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Spain 1-2 France: Les Bleus seal Nations League title the hard way after nailbiting finish
World champions France recovered from another deficit, for the second time in four days, to be crowned the 2021 UEFA Nations League champions with a 2-1 win over Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain. Just like their comeback win over Belgium, goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe saw them storm ahead in a frenetic second-half packed with chances for both sides. Continue reading “Spain 1-2 France: Les Bleus seal Nations League title the hard way after nailbiting finish”
Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win
In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
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Meticulous planning, irreparable damage and cruel irony: Lionel Messi at PSG
Lionel Messi’s 21-year association with Barcelona, where he became the greatest player of his generation, ended yesterday. The Argentine joins a stacked PSG side whose pursuit of an elusive Champions League triumph has become clearer in recent months with their summer business. But while the seeds had been sown for a decade, even they wouldn’t have expected this…
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Euro 2020: Karim Benzema to make France return after six-year absence
Six years after his last call-up with politics, allegations of racism and an ongoing court case bubbling beneath the surface, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man France squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament – which begins in less than a month’s time. He’s expected to lead the line after an excellent season at club level.
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Thomas Tuchel made PSG believe, but his time was numbered from the start

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have finally announced Thomas Tuchel’s sacking, just four months after the German took them to their first Champions League Final and five days following reports suggesting he’d be imminently replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. It’s a bitter end to a fractious relationship for the 47-year-old, whose time was numbered from day one. Continue reading “Thomas Tuchel made PSG believe, but his time was numbered from the start”
Sunday previews: Frustrated Inter go to Cagliari, PSG host title-chasing Lyon

Read on for Sunday’s two previews across Europe’s top leagues – Inter return to league action after their disappointing Champions League result in midweek, while Ligue 1 leaders PSG hope to create separation between themselves and title-chasing Lyon in an intriguing evening clash. Continue reading “Sunday previews: Frustrated Inter go to Cagliari, PSG host title-chasing Lyon”
PSG 1-2 Manchester United: 5 Talking Points as Rashford turns hero again

Marcus Rashford was a matchwinner in Paris for the second successive year as Manchester United left it late to sink Paris Saint-Germain on MD1 of the new 2020-21 Champions League campaign, inflicting the Parisiens’ first UCL home defeat for 16 years with aplomb after 87 minutes. What were five talking points from their last-gasp victory here? Read on… Continue reading “PSG 1-2 Manchester United: 5 Talking Points as Rashford turns hero again”
Bayern Munich 1-0 PSG: 5 Talking Points as Coman’s strike clinches UCL triumph

Bayern Munich ended a six-year wait for Champions League glory with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final. What were five talking points as the Bavarians stifled PSG’s creativity enroute to sealing a sweet treble of trophies to finish the campaign on an unforgettable high in Lisbon? Continue reading “Bayern Munich 1-0 PSG: 5 Talking Points as Coman’s strike clinches UCL triumph”