Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

Mbappe has two penalties saved for PSG, before missing an empty net and leaving injured

talksport.com, 2 February 2023, 08:06
Kylian Mbappe may have scored three penalties in the World Cup final, but can he do it on a cold Wednesday night in Montpellier?

No is the answer. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar had two bites of the cherry from the spot in the Ligue 1 clash, but was denied on both occasions by Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.

Advertisement

Unlike many at Qatar 2022, Mbappe wasn't threatened by Argentina's Emi Martinez, putting the ball past him on four occasions in the final.

Advertisement

Two came from the spot in normal and extra time, either side of a sublime volley, and Mbappe again dispatched his effort in the shoot-out, which France eventually lost.

It was arguably the greatest individual performance ever in a World Cup final, with Mbappe having more goals at that stage than any player in history, and global audiences were left stunned at his incredible courage.

However, that all went missing against Lecomte, who's only just arrived from Espanyol.

With Marseille nipping at PSG's heels and moving just two points behind in the Ligue 1 title race, Mbappe was given the opportunity to bite straight back from the spot against Montpellier.

Advertisement

Lecomte, though, read his eighth minute penalty perfectly, getting both hands to a shot destined for the bottom left corner of his net.

It was the goalkeeper's second penalty save in his second appearance for his new side, but it appeared to be in vain when the match referee was advised he left his line.

Advertisement

The penalty had to be retaken, with Mbappe getting a second chance, aiming for the right side this time, and Lecomte managed to get a fingertip on the effort, putting it on the post.

Even worse than a second miss in two minutes for Mbappe, was the rebound coming straight back to him, which he managed to send over the empty net.

Advertisement

It didn't cost his side the three points with second-half goals from Fabian Ruiz, Lionel Messi and Warren Zaire-Emery securing PSG a 3-1 victory.

But shortly after the misses, Mbappe's night from hell was completed when he made way for Hugo Ekitike in the 21st minute with an injury.

That could prove crucial for PSG, who have a number of sides breathing down their neck in the title race, while Bayern Munich await in the Champions League Round of 16 on Valentine's Day.

Advertisement

Top News

29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton will look to avoid equalling an unwanted club-record Premier League winless run when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham will be back in the Real Madrid XI for Sunday's La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of the fixtures in game week 30 of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign will take place at Bernabeu on Sunday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Athletic Bilbao for an intriguing affair. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad will be bidding to make it three straight victories in Spain's top flight when they resume their campaign away to Basque rivals Alaves on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of several blockbuster battles taking place on the Easter weekend, Ligue 1 powerhouses Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain cross paths for the latest instalment of Le Classique on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord play host to FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon knowing that they realistically need to win to remain in the Eredivisie title hunt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax make the trip to PEC Zwolle on Sunday morning in desperate need of three points as they bid to remain in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Eredivisie standings. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Girona and Real Betis will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when the two teams lock horns at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Sunday afternoon. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest Pep Guardiola-Mikel Arteta Etihad reunion will be a particularly momentous one on Easter Sunday, as Premier League champions Manchester City host current table-toppers Arsenal with priceless points on the line. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams battling to stay out of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight will lock horns on Sunday afternoon, with Celta Vigo welcoming Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are allegedly preparing to rival Manchester City and Manchester United in the race to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly likely to fail in any attempt to attract Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil to Old Trafford. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Thiago Silva will leave the Premier League outfit this summer, according to Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Top-four contenders Nice return from the international break on Sunday, when Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes visit Allianz Riviera under new management. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente vs. Famalicao (Friday, 3.30pm) Gil Vicente and Famalicao get round 27 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm) Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who could do well with all three points go head to head in round 27 of the Primeira Liga as Estoril Praia play host to Porto at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham boss Marco Silva has admitted he has spoken to Willian about his future with the club. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly discovered the asking price of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes ahead of the summer transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United can maintain their 100% record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday when they host the Chicago Fire in the final MLS encounter of the weekend. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly suffered a blow in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Xavi Simons, who has starred on loan at RB Leipzig this season. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their faint hopes of European qualification alive, Freiburg will travel to Borussia Park to face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England trio Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Cole Palmer are among a number of players who could be potential beneficiaries if UEFA agree to increase national team squad sizes from 23 to 26 for Euro 2024. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa Women will welcome fellow Midlands side Leicester Women to the Bescot Stadium for Saturday's lunchtime kickoff. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly increasingly pessimistic about their chances of hiring top managerial candidate Xabi Alonso this summer. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Orlando City will go head-to-head with the New York Red Bulls in gamweek six of the MLS regular season at the Inter&Co Stadium in Florida on Sunday morning. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their European hopes alive, Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Union Berlin to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday afternoon in the Bundesliga. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Unbeaten in their five Major League Soccer matches so far, Los Angeles entertain the challenge of Seattle Sounders at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.