If Kylian Mbappe can continue to lead the line how he did tonight, this may be the year that PSG can finally find a breakthrough in Champions League play. Mbappe opened the scoring in the fifth minute following a dime of an assist from Neymar en route to a 2-1 victory Tuesday over Juventus at Parc des Princes in Paris. Mbappe doubled his tally from an Acharaf Hakimi assist in the 22nd minute before Massimo Allegri knew what hit him.
After subbing Weston McKennie into the match at the half for Fabio Miretti -- who had an anonymous first half before picking up a yellow -- things did pick up in a big way for Juventus. It only took eight minutes of McKennie being on the pitch for him to find Juventus' first goal with a header from Filip Kostic's cross, but it wouldn't be enough and Juventus couldn't find an equalizer. They created plenty of chances when Kostic was pushed into more advanced positions but they couldn't find the finishing touch for an equalizer.
Things weren't perfect for Christophe Galtier as his defense has work to do but it's a positive result versus PSG's toughest test of the season so far. There were also times when Mbappe was searching for his hat trick instead of passing to his teammates but with more time, these should be ironed out. When you can score goals like Mbappe does though, shooting isn't the worst thing that can happen.
Take a look at PSG's opening goal:
Books can be written about Neymar's dink and Mbappe's finish but PSG will need more inventiveness between their front three to secure their goal of a Champions League title. Last season under Mauricio Pochettino, that wasn't something that happened regularly but if the dynamic trio is in sync under Galtier, the sky is the limit for the team, especially with Gianluigi Donnarumma giving the team room for error on the defensive end.
Here are a few takeaways from the match:
McKennie started the match on the bench and his absence showed as Leandro Paredes was the only central midfielder to impact the game in the first half. With McKennie's introduction for Miratti, Juventus' team play improved. They only held 37% possession in the first half compared to things being even in the second half while McKennie scored a headed goal and took another shot. McKennie only misplaced two passes and brought an important defensive presence to the pitch with four recoveries and winning a tackle in his 45-minute shift.
After a match like this, it will be hard for Allegri to drop McKennie when he's healthy. His energy is infectious and his understanding with Kostic -- who was Juventus' most important player -- helped both succeed even if the score wasn't level in the end.
While Neymar only had one assist to show for his game, he was one of the best players on the pitch for either team. Neymar created four chances and took four shots, putting two on target in an electric match for the Brazillian. Back to his best ahead of the World Cup, Neymar has already been lighting up Ligue 1 with seven goals and six assists in six matches, and if he can bring even half of that to Champions League play, PSG can go on quite the run this season. They created three big chances and scored on two of them which bodes well as Juventus left themselves open but overall didn't play a bad match.
Both teams will take away important lessons from this match. Juventus had their chances early as Arkadiusz Milik had a few good headers but the way that the team fell asleep after and allowed PSG to counter is something that Allegri will need to stamp out. With a stronger midfield performance and Juventus would likely have gotten a point but instead, they left with none. It's a fine result considering they played PSG but it also shows how far Juventus still have to go if they'd like to return to rubbing shoulders with the world's elite.
Galtier's defense gave Donnarumma far too much work to do even though he only had three saves to make. Facing 12 crosses and 13 shots, there was plenty of times that things could've gone awry if he wasn't strong in the box as anything that got past Marco Verrartti likely turned into a shot. No center back attempted more than one tackle during the match and only Marquinhos won an ariel duel despite the central defenders facing seven during the match. Against an in-form Juventus, this is a different result, but it shows why PSG wanted Milan Skrinar during the summer. The defense could be this team's undoing and it's up to Galtier to prevent that.
While there were wonders about the relationship between Mbappe and Neymar, everything looked fine playing out on the pitch as PSG held on for a 2-1 victory. Juventus will feel good about the way the match ended but Max Allegri's side needs to put everything together.
Kostic got him the ball in space and he couldn't find the finishing touch. He got a second bite at the apple but Donnarumma was there to clean things up. Nine minutes remain but PSG will want to find another goal to feel comfortable.
Despite holding less possession, Juventus have now taken the lead in shots but PSG are changing things a little. Danilo and Mukelie are coming in for Vitinha and Hakimi to bring more bite to the match for PSG.
Locatelli has entered for Milik as Juventus need more control in midfield. This pushes Kistic up while allowing Danilo and Cuadrado to play as standard fullbacks now.
Neymar and Messi played him in with amazing 1-2 touches but he was unable to make the finish count.
Kostic again is creating trouble as he's been given the freedom to go where he wants to. PSG may need a change of their own as control fo the match is slipping away from them.
Off the bench and onto the scoresheet as Kostic's cross finds McKennie's head for the opener.
His cross almost made it over the PSG defense but it's the kind of inventiveness that Juventus needs to get back into the match.
Weston McKennie has entered for Miretti as Juventus look to turn the game around in the second half.
I guess it's an impact as he is called for the foul on Neymar but not the impact Allegri is looking for from his midfield. Something needs to change at the half from Juventus' setup.
While two goals on two shots on goal says as much about the Juventus defense as it does about the PSG attack a team still has to make their chances count and so far only the Parisians are doing that. Juventus has almost gone without having a midfield has Rabiot and Miretti haven't been able to impact the game and that will need to change as the match progresses more goals are coming.
Mbappe again! He has his second following a wonderful assist from Hakimi but he's also down receiving treatment after a challenge. After Juventus missed another chance, PSG made them pay quickly and this could already be over.
Juventus had a chance in the air but Milik nods it directly at Donnarumma. They'll want that one back but Juventus will be feeling good to be pushing possession a bit in a hostile environment.
PSG have had almost 80 percent of the possession so far. They haven't had many shots yet but the moment of magic between Neymar and Mbappe has been enough early on. Juventus need to get a goal back soon before things get out of hand.
Well... I said PSG can make Juventus pay quickly but had no idea we'd see magic between Neymar and Mbappe this quickly.
Donnarumma came out well to stop things but Juventus can't let too many good looks at goal go astray as PSG can make them pay quickly. Something to watch as the game moves on.
As PSG chase an elusive Champions League title, this is a great time for a statement victory.
Juventus are coming off of a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina while PSG brushed off Nantes over the weekend. It will be a tough match as PSG are a strong team in the attacking third that can push the pace faster than Juventus would like to take it. The good news is that Juventus knows that they need to stop Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar but the bad news is that actually doing that is easier said than done.
Starters: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Ramos, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes, Verratti, Vitinha, Messi, Neymar, Mbappe
Reserves: Navas, Rico, Mukiele, Bernat, Fabian, Danilo, Sanches, Sarabia, Soler, Ekitike
Starters: Peain, Danilo, Bonucci, Barmer, Cuadrado, Paredes, Rabiot, Miaetti, Kostic, Milik, Vlahovic
Reserves: Pinsoglio, Garofani, De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Gatti, Rugani, Locatelli, McKennie, Fagioli, Kean, Soule
Roger Gonzalez took a look at all the Americans taking part in Champions League play.
Position: Midfielder
Role with USMNT: Arguably the team's most important players and a sure starter when healthy.
Outlook: Weston McKennie has had some great moments in this competition, mainly a stellar mid-air scissor volley at Barcelona. He did start the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina over the weekend, which means that there's a chance he doesn't start against PSG on Tuesday. Paul Pogba's return to Juve may not be great for his minutes, but Juventus did ease their midfield logjam by sending Denis Zakaria to Chelsea and Arthur to Liverpool as the window closed which does help that a bit. He still has a good shot of being an important player for Juve in this competition due to his versatility, and he'll probably start some games.
James Benge ranked everyone from contenders all the way to the minnows and here's what he has to say.
PSG are at five: PSG will naturally view themselves as being in the top tier of contenders but this summer has brought something approximating a period of reflection for Europe's most spend happy giant. Appointing Christophe Galtier and investing in younger talent from France and Portugal suggests a club willing to build slowly around Kylian Mbappe. The question is whether, come the business end of the tournament, he and the rest of their superstar front three will be prepared to do the off ball work that makes for champions.
Juventus are at 16: The Old Lady of Italian football hardly set the world alight away to Sampdoria on the second weekend of the Serie A season and their squad seems a little light on guile with Angel Di Maria and Federico Chiesa injured and Paulo Dybala departed. There will be pressure aplenty on Dusan Vlahovic for the goals to lift Juve over Benfica, with two non-penalty goals in his last seven games there are still questions as to whether he can deliver
This is a difficult one for the Old Lady with Di Maria, Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa all out. Leandro Paredes and Adrien Rabiot are both part of the Italians' former PSG player contingent and Massimiliano Allegri has already said that Juventus are playing for second place with SL Benfica. Can they spring a surprise?
Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar are clicking together while Christophe Galtier is getting more out of a talented group of players than predecessor Mauricio Pochettino managed. This is arguably the toughest test so far and the French tactician rotated his players to keep certain members of his squad fresh for this one. Expect Les Parisiens to try to make a strong start to the European campaign at Parc des Princes.
