The match ended with PSG victorious, but Christophe Galtier’s side had to work hard for their three points against Maccabi Haifa.
Having avoided going 2-0 in the first half, PSG recovered to be much more ruthless in the second.
They tested Cohen frequently and turned the game around thanks to well-taken breakaway goals from Mbappe and Neymar.
The hosts still had chances, but PSG’s quality shone through to seal the three points and send them to the top of Group H.
Starting lineup:
MACCABI HAIFA (4-3-3): Josh Cohen;
Daniel Sundgren, Dylan Batubinsika, Sean Goldberg, Pierre Cornud;
Tjaronn Chery, Neta Lavi, Mohammad Abu Fani;
Omer Atzili, Frantzdy Pierrot, Delov Hazizia.
MACCABI HAIFA SUBS: Roei Mashpati, Ali Mohamed El Fazaz, Mavis Tchibota, Sun Menachem, Nikita Rukavytsya, Ofri Arad, Dean David, Yosef Raz Meir, Abdoulaye Seck, Maor Levi, Inon Eliyahu, Rami Gershon.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (3-4-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma;
Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira;
Nordi Mukiele, Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes;
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Sergio Rico, Alexandre Letellier, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Huan Bernat, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Warren Zaire Emery, Hugo Ekitike.
Goals:
GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!! Maccabi Haifa take the lead against PSG!!!! Over-expansive play at the back from PSG sees them lose the ball in midfield, and Hazizia whips in a peach of a cross which is volleyed home by Chery!!! What a strike, and what a shocking upset we have on the cards here!!!
GOOOAAALLL!!! PSG equalise!!! Messi finds Mbappe to his left, who beats Sundgren before crossing low. A deflection off Batubinsika sends the ball into Messi’s path, and he fires home from right in front to lock us up at 1-1! PSG are back on level terms, and will look to ensure they don’t run the risk of going behind again!
GOOOAAAALLL!!!! Les Parisiens hit the front!!! Messi drives forward before splitting the defence with a ball for Mbappe, whose first touch is to slot it perfectly into the far corner, beating Cohen and putting PSG 2-1 up!!! What a well-taken finish!!!
GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Game, set, match!!! A delightful ball over the top from Verratti finds Neymar in wide open space, and he takes a touch to set himself before firing past the onrushing Cohen!!! 3-1 to PSG, and surely no way back now for the home side.
So, what’s next?
That comeback victory sees PSG climb to the top of Group H, ahead of Benfica, who beat Juventus 2-1 in the corresponding fixture.
Maccabi Haifa remains pointless at the bottom of the group, but so do Juventus.
And if they perform as well as they did in this game.
The Israeli side could pull off the unthinkable and beat the Bianconeri to third place.
