The disappointment lives up to the huge expectations. Since the start of his young career, Kylian Mbappé (21) had taken the good habit of shining in the finals. Against Bayern, the prodigy of Bondy (Seine-Saint-Denis) was playing the 9th of his career. He had lost only one, that of the Coupe de la Ligue in 2017 with Monaco against… PSG.
But he will still have to wait to win a first Champions League two years after his title of World champion with the Blues. Mbappé risks rehashing his wasted opportunities in the first half for a long time.
From the outset, the Parisian number 7 who played with pink shoes inspired by an old model dating from 2008, and worn by Franck Ribéry, had shown himself very leggy. His sprained right ankle after a tackle by Loïc Perrin against Saint-Etienne in the final of the Coupe de France on July 24 which could have deprived him of this final 8 - "I cried all night he confessed" -, seems very far away. “I feel better but I have to play with a very thick strap. I have no more pain. I'm going to leave my body on the ground, ”he said after qualifying (3-0) in the semi-final against Leipzig. He kept his word.
The most dangerous of Parisian attackers
Proof of his involvement and of a recovered physique, we have even seen him several times come to lend a hand to his defense like this return to Gnabry (5th). He is at the origin of the first offensive movements of PSG. After obtaining a free kick (8th), he was countered on two strikes by Goretzka (14th) then Kimmich (15th). The danger comes from his left side again. Mbappé launched Neymar perfectly in depth but goalkeeper Neuer made a miraculous save against the Brazilian (19th). The two fantastic ones often seek each other. “We're roughly the same age, we share the same delusions. The current went on from the start. We are having fun. We care less about our individual careers. We have been able to create a context where we care more about others. If we want to win, it's together, ”explained Mbappé about his friend Neymar.
Just before half-time, he's the one who spoils a huge possibility. On a center back from Herrera, Mbappé does not support his recovery enough, which ends, again, in the gloves of Neuer (45th). His grimace speaks volumes ... PSG and Mbappé missed their chance.
At the start of the second half, the striker swaps with Di Maria. On the right side, he found himself facing the fast Canadian Davies. But PSG is weaned from balls. After the victorious head of Coman, the child of Moissy (Seine-et-Marne) who showered his training club, Mbappé failed to cut the path of the good center of Di Maria (67th). Returned to the left, he does not manage to overwhelm Kimmich and Süle who take it two (70th). Remained on the ground, his gestures betray the impotence tinged with annoyance.
PSG Express
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If he was the most dangerous of Parisian attackers alongside disappointing Neymar and Di Maria, that was not enough.