Lionel Messi Makes First PSG Start But Club Brugge Hold On For A Draw
NDTV
Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw by Club Brugge as Lionel Messi made his first start for the club since moving there from Barcelona.
Lionel Messi finally made his first start for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday but the disjointed French giants had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge in Belgium to begin their Champions League campaign. Ander Herrera gave PSG an early lead at the Jan Breydel Stadium only for Hans Vanaken to equalise for the home side, who were excellent and thoroughly deserved their point. Messi -- who had played just 24 minutes as a substitute prior to this game -- is still looking for his first goal for his new club although he hit the bar in the first half and tested Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet after the break before picking up a yellow card for a foul on Mats Rits.
However it was not a convincing performance from the Parisians as coach Mauricio Pochettino lined up his star attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe together for the first time.
"We need time for them to get to know each other," insisted Pochettino of his front three.
Mbappe came off hurt in the second half and PSG, despite building a team with the aim of winning the Champions League, have already complicated their chances just of making it out of a difficult Group A.
