While playing within Ligue 1, PSG is simultaneously competing in the UEFA Champions League, coming off a 1-1 tie against Benfica on Wednesday. In that match, Messi netted the only goal, which came as no surprise, as the Argentine football player sits in third place in points for his team. Neymar and Kylian Mbapp sit in first and second place respectively.
Not used to facing such a flood of attacking waves, PSG was constantly exposed. Donnarumma had to produce a tremendous save in the 18th minute to deny David Neres’ effort and keep his team afloat. And suddenly, Messi silenced the stadium. After PSG recovered the ball near the midfield line, the Argentine star passed the ball to Mbappé, who in turn laid it off to Neymar in a triangle play. The Brazil forward gave it back to Messi, whose superb curled shot from the edge of the box found the top corner as goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos dived in vain. Messi’s goal swung the balance in PSG’s favor as Benfica players could not maintain their early frenetic tempo. But they kept trying. The hosts’ pressure paid off in the 41st minute after Enzo Fernandez was left unmarked on the left and had plenty of time to send a precise ball between two defenders.
Juventus is in third place, four points off the pace, ahead of last-place Maccabi Haifa with zero. Circulating the ball well and fast, the hosts put the French champions on the back foot from the start. They had their first chance in the eighth minute when Gonçalo Ramos beat the offside trap from a long ball out from the back and tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a low shot that the PSG goalkeeper parried away with his legs. Under pressure, PSG simply could not hold onto the ball. Ramos forced another save from Donnarumma with his second effort at goal after Messi slipped and gave the ball away in the 13th minute.
Viewers can also use Sling with their World Sports add-on package. More information on international soccer via the Associated Press:LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Benfica after struggling for long spells in their Champions League game Wednesday despite another well-struck goal from Lionel Messi. Benfica started with an intense and high press that unsettled PSG in the early stages, until Messi broke the deadlock against the run of the play with his 127th goal in Europe’s top competition. The goal came after a move involving the entire “MNM” attacking trio as Messi combined with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar before curling in a first-time shot with his left foot. Benfica leveled before halftime thanks to an own goal from Danilo Pereira. PSG and Benfica both won their opening two matches in Group H and have seven points.
(4-2-3-1): Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, Busi; Munetsi, Matusiwa; Ito, Zeneli, Flips; Balogun. Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is Reims' top scorer this season with ten goals, which is good for joint-fourth in Ligue 1's scoring charts. The 21-year-old fancies himself to net against anyone but doing so against PSG is an entirely different challenge. Being on enemy territory won't bother Reims, whose home and away records are strikingly similar, but PSG are significantly more confident on home turf and they won't expect any real issues from this one.
If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast! United KingdomUnited StatesCanadaPSG team newsPresnel Kimpembe is yet to return to training and he has been joined on the treatment table by Nordi Mukiele, limiting the options available to Christophe Galtier in defence. Midfielder Marco Verratti is back with the team, however, and may get some minutes off the bench. (3-4-1-2): Donnarumma; Danilo, Ramos, Marquinhos; Hakimi, Vitinha, Fabian, Mendes; Neymar; Messi, Mbappe. Stade Reims team newsNathanael Mbuku and Noah Jean Holm are both expected to be unavailable, while there are doubts over the fitness of Thibault de Smet as he battles a foot injury.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Stade de Reims: How to watch Ligue 1 soccer for freeStade de Reims will host Paris Saint-Germain in a Ligue 1 matchup on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 3 p. m. EST. The match will be played at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France and will air on TV via beIN Sports. Fans can also watch PSG for free by signing up for a free trial of DirecTV or fuboTV. Still undefeated this season, PSG sits atop the Ligue 1 standings with eight wins and one tie.
PSG vs Stade Reims - Ligue 1: TV channel, team news, lineups and predictionPSG thumped sixth-tier Pays de Cassel 7-0 last time out but will expect a tougher time of things when they pick on someone far closer to their size in the shape of Stade Reims on Sunday. Reims find themselves 11th in Ligue 1 but are actually unbeaten in their last 13 games in all competitions - a run which includes a goalless draw at home to Christophe Galtier's side in early October. Here's all you need to know about this one. Planet League's Rich Holmes & Sustainable Clarets' Cat Jebson join Shebahn Aherne to have football's climate conversation ahead of Green Football Weekend.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Stade Reims: Live Stream, TV