Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) inconsistent start to this season’s Champions League continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. Following the match, coach Luis Enrique expressed his concern over the team’s performance and prospects in the tournament.
The Dutch champions took the lead just after the half-hour mark with a strike from Noa Lang at the Parc des Princes. However, Achraf Hakimi equalised for PSG early in the second half. Despite dominating the game, PSG struggled to convert their chances into goals, a recurring issue in European competition.
PSG’s frustration peaked when they were awarded a penalty in injury time after Marco Asensio was fouled, only for the decision to be overturned upon review. The French side registered 26 attempts on goal compared to PSV’s eight, but they have managed to score only twice in their last five Champions League matches, including an own goal against Girona last month.
This troubling trend traces back to last season’s semi-final, where PSG lost 2-0 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund.
Following a narrow 1-0 victory against Girona and a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, PSG now sit with four points from three matches in the new Champions League format. With five games remaining, they face tough fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, making their path ahead challenging.
On the other hand, PSV remains winless in the competition after suffering a previous defeat to Juventus and later drawing with Sporting.
Ousmane Dembélé, controversially dropped against Arsenal but rested in Ligue 1 last weekend, returned to the starting lineup for PSG. However, he missed crucial chances in the first half, including a half-volley that clipped the bar and another shot that sailed over the goal.
PSG fell behind on 34 minutes after an interception from Olivier Boscagli left the home side vulnerable. Ismael Saibari assisted Lang, who fired a low shot from the edge of the area to give PSV the lead.
In danger of suffering another defeat, PSG found their equaliser in the 55th minute when Hakimi’s powerful shot from 25 yards slipped through PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez’s legs.
The match took a dramatic turn in injury time when referee Glenn Nyberg awarded a penalty for a foul on Asensio, but after a VAR check, it was rescinded as Boscagli had played the ball. Benitez later saved a header from Marquinhos, and the final whistle was met with boos from the home fans.
With their aspirations for a first-ever Champions League title appearing increasingly distant, PSG will need to rectify their finishing woes to secure their place in the knockout stages.
