Lionel Messi scored his eighth goal of the season and his 127th in the Champions League to open the scoring for PSG against Benfica for their third Champions League group stage game.
Messi has been superb, as he has become a household name in football. Messi’s goal also means that he is the first player to score against 40 different teams in Europe’s top competition – another record to add to his incredible collection.
The 7-time Ballon d’Or winner teamed up with Neymar and Mbappe to create a perfect one-touch treble left-footed finisher that only ended up in the back of the net, way out of Benfica goalkeeper’s reach.
PSG goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma was also on fire as he kept his team in the game, particularly in the first half, when Benfica went for the visitors and had plenty of chances to score.
The hosts rumbled forwards from the go, inspired by a raucous crowd, and caused PSG all sorts of problems.
PSG defenders were not so confident, as Benfica kept causing problems for them. There were a few sloppy passes and clearance too.
Goncalo Ramos, David Neres, and Antonio Silva all had good opportunities to tuck goals in for the hosts, but could not get past Donnarumma.
Danilo scored an unfortunate own goal, leveling the game for the host as the ball just took a nick off him curling past and just inside the post.
Both PSG and Benfica headed into Wednesday’s match with unbeaten records in 2022-23 and the draw means the two teams are still yet to taste defeat.
PSG and Benfica will return to league action at the weekend before meeting again at the Parc des Princes next week. Since both teams are dining the same points, a win for any squad would give them a top spot advantage in the final draws of the group stage.
