PSG: The French giant drop points despite ‘MNM’ starting

PSG was held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Brugge at Flanders in their opening matchday of the Champions League. Ander Herrara and Hans Vanaken’s first-half goals separated the two sides.

Lionel Messi started the match, lining up alongside Brazilian Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the XI for the first time to form the astonishingly good ‘MNM’ trio. This was Messi’s first match for PSG since joining the club after leaving Barcelona.

Ander Herrera opened the scoring in the 15th minute for the visiting side, reaching behind him to lash home a left-footed shot after Mbappe picked him out in the middle of the penalty area.

Brugge scored the equalizer before the half-hour when Vanaken powered a first-time shot past Keylor Navas. Sobol played an inch-perfect cross into the center of the box for Vanaken to put the match back on level. PSG was put under pressure by the Belgian champions after the leveler. However, they managed to get into the half-time with the score remaining 1-1.

Mbappe was replaced by Icardi early in the second half after an awkward tangle with a pair of Brugge defenders. Both sides pushed for a second goal as the second half wore on, and Messi had a great chance saved by Simon Mignolet around the 70th minute. Subsequently, the Argentine was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Brugge’s Mats Rits.

Both teams could not find a winning goal and settled for a point apiece. PSG and Brugge trail Manchester City, who thrashed RB Leipzig on Wednesday, in group A.