PSG-Manchester United: we did not recognize Kylian Mbappé

The matches follow each other but are not alike for Kylian Mbappé.

Breathtaking, Friday at the Costières stadium in Nîmes, the world champion did not experience the same success this Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes for his reunion with the Champions League.

Two months after the final lost to Bayern Munich (1-0), it is a mixed match that the Parisian top scorer delivered in front of deserted stands and under incessant rain.

Unbreakable, Bondy's machine played against Manchester United (1-2) its fifth match in less than two weeks.

A frantic pace which is not enough to explain the disappointing copy made by the Parisian number 7, even if, rare thing, he was hampered twice during the race by Tuanzebe.

Last Friday, it was rinsed by his three consecutive outings with the Blues against Ukraine, Portugal and Croatia that he should have appeared at Costières.

For his fourth match in a little over a week, it was on the contrary with fiery legs and a formidable efficiency that he glided over this meeting of the 7th day of Ligue 1, marked by his first double. of the season.

Four days later, his reunion with Manchester should have been written in the same fashion.

But tenured at the forefront of the attack, the former Monegasque has not shown himself more in his plate than all of his partners.

As he had done in Blue before scoring, when Deschamps had aligned him with Martial just in front of a Griezmann with the baton against Croatia, Mbappé was very discreet.

De Gea vigilant in front of him

Only a cross to Kurzawa, whose point-blank shot was deflected by De Gea (12th), allowed him to stand out.

Too little to cast doubt on the Mancunian defense.

Not enough either to satisfy Neymar who, at the half-hour mark, will signal him to swap and invite him to spin on the left flank.

Where he usually shines the most, where his speed and his ability to eliminate are best expressed.

On returning from the locker room, the entry into play of Moise Kean and the change of system (from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1) suggest a radical and immediate change.

Alerted on the left side, Mbappé finally provokes the ball in his foot, eliminates two defenders and is very close to putting the two teams back to back.

But impeccable in his horizontal relaxation, De Gea does not let himself be surprised by the enveloped strike (48th).

Ten minutes later, Di Maria's pricked ball once again allowed him to bring danger into the English area.

Not to hit the mark.

Paris missed out on their match.

Kylian Mbappé too.

An explanation for the fact that for the first time in 16 years, the capital club lost in the group stage of the Champions League.