Lionel Messi hit the crossbar as Paris Saint-Germain had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Club Brugge in their UEFA Champions League opener on Wednesday.
Hans Vanaken’s deflected 27th-minute strike cancelled out Ander Herrera’s opener from Kylian Mbappe’s cutback in the 15th minute.
Messi sent a curling first-half shot into the woodwork, marking the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock.
To make matters worse for PSG, Mbappe limped off late with an ankle injury.
“We don’t know how serious it is,” PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino said. “Tests are going to have to clarify that so we hope to bring an update as soon as possible.”
The PSG manager was not impressed with his side’s display, admitting his front trio of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar still need more time to gel.
“We need time to work for them to build an understanding,” he said. “That’s been clear and we’ve said that in recent days. We still have to create a team.”
In the other group game, Manchester City defeated RB Leipzig 6-3 in an entertaining game where Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick in a losing side.
Jordan Henderson’s thunderous strike from a volley settled Liverpool’s clash with AC Milan, winning 3-2 after Mohamed Salah had a first-half penalty saved.
Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 with FC Porto in the other Group B game.
Rodrygo scored an 89th minute winner for Real Madrid in a 1-0 triumph away to Italian champions Inter Milan, while debutants Sheriff Tiraspol stunned Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 in Group D.
Ajax Amsterdam thrashing Sporting Lisbon 5-1 on the road with Sebastien Heller scoring four goals, while Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 at Besiktas with Erling Haaland netting in Group C.
