PSG finished behind Benfica due to fewer away goals, not enough for a 2-1 win over Juventus

Juventus lost their fifth of six matches in this season’s Champions League on Wednesday. They fell 1:2 at home to PSG and finished third in the table. PSG are now second despite a goalless draw with Benfica Lisbon.

Juventus started sympathetically, with the Paris defence struggling with quick action. What was lacking was finishing, which changed in the eighth minute. Manuel Locatelli sent in a shot from thirty yards and just missed the right post.

Then came the cruel blow. Kylian Mbappé was given space for the first time and with the help of his right foot, he shot past Wojciech Szczesny with the right post. On the other side, Juan Cuadrado tried to equalise but missed from outside the box.

Mbappé then struck again, this time hitting the crossbar. The home side hesitated in the final stages, with Fabio Miretti twice meeting the ball between the 30th and 35th minutes. First he missed the target in a good position, then he waited and Marquinhos managed to block it.

In the 39th minute, it was deservedly level. Cuadrado played a cross to Leonardo Bonucci, who could only clear into the empty net. The game was tied 1-1. After the change of sides, the visitors were active, but it was Mbappé who produced the first shot in the 59th minute.

In the 69th minute, the visitors celebrated. Nuno Mendes gave Szczesny no chance after Mbappé’s left-footed pass. The game then settled down as both teams knew that the current scoreline suited them given the developments in Israel.

Only, Benfica ended up scoring six goals against Haifa, and suddenly the scores were identical for both Paris. The higher number of goals scored in the away games decided in Benfica’s favour.

Source: Nova Sport 4