PSG held by Club Brugge as Messi makes full debut
Manchester City thump Leipzig in nine-goal thriller
Last season’s semifinalist PSG were held to a 1-1 draw by Belgian champions Club Brugge in their UEFA Champions League Group A opener as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi finally made his full debut for the club.
It was predicted that Club Brugge would be routed by PSG after the French giants were finally able to play the expensively assembled attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe from the start of the match.
French striker Mbappe helped PSG go in front against their Belgian opponents as he laid off an assist for midfielder Ander Herrera. The 22-year-old beat his man on the left flank before playing a low cross into the box for Herrera, who sent a first-time finish beyond the reach of Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in the 15th minute.
Club Brugge found themselves level 12 minutes later with a strike that was eerily similar to the PSG one. Eduard Sobol played the role of Mbappe as he rolled the ball into the box for captain Hans Vanaken to drive a first-time finish into the back of the net.
PSG almost found themselves in front mere seconds later as Messi cut in on his favoured left foot before taking a shot that came back off the frame of the goalpost, denying him what would have been a dream debut goal.
PSG lost forward Mbappe to injury in the second half as the Frenchman rolled his ankle in an attempt to lead a counter attack against Club Brugge. He was replaced by Argentine striker Mauro Icardi after only 51 minutes.
PSG struggled to create any meaningful openings and saw their match against Club Brugge end in an unlikely draw. It was two points dropped for the French giants in a group that also has Manchester City and RB Leipzig.
In the group’s other match, Manchester City thrashed RB Leipzig 6-3 in a nine-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium. The Cityzens were runners-up after losing to Chelsea in Porto in last season’s final. They went in front through Dutch defender Nathan Ake before an unfortunate own goal from Nordin Mukiele doubled the Cityzens’ advantage. French midfielder Christopher Nkunku pulled one back for Leipzig before Riyad Mahrez scored from the spot on the stroke of halftime to restore their two-goal cushion.
Nkunku scored another header to make it 3-2 before £100 million man Jack Grealish made it 4-2 on his Champions League debut for Manchester City. Nkunku completed his hat-trick to make it 4-3, but further goals from Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus ensured a comfortable win for the English champions.
