Champions League: Cherki shines, Pavard struggles as Mbappé scores in Real win | OneFootball

French players had a mixed Champions League return. Kylian Mbappé struck in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Inter, Rayan Cherki impressed in Manchester City’s 2-0 victory at Porto, and Benjamin Pavard endured a difficult night.

L'Équipe notes that the French displays ranged from decisive to erratic across both ties. At the Bernabéu, Marcus Thuram was denied by Thibaut Courtois in the third minute, then Mbappé pressed to pounce for the opener on 14 minutes.

In a Real team that largely soaked up pressure, Mbappé made the most of limited openings, registering four efforts, all on target. He now has 71 Champions League goals in 99 matches, the fifth-best total, level with Raúl, and has 23 in 26 for Real, with further chances denied by Josep Martinez.

Pavard, making only his second outing of the season, slid in smartly on Vinicius on 29 minutes but otherwise laboured against Real’s speed. Thuram had a strike blocked on 44 minutes. A mishit clearance on 45+2 forced a double save to prevent a third, and Pavard was withdrawn at half-time.

Andy Diouf adapted well as an unorthodox right wing-back, involving himself heavily before the interval. Ibrahima Konaté, stationed to the right of Dean Huijsen in central defence, kept things simple, completing 81.3% of his passes and trying one off-target shot as Lautaro Martinez drifted. On his first start of the season, Thuram later miscued on 52, then made way for Ange-Yoan Bonny on 60.

In Porto, Cherki delivered flashes of class amid inconsistency. He slipped passes through traffic for Phil Foden on 23 and 29 minutes, then cut the ball back for Enzo Fernandez, who teed up Erling Haaland for the opener on 47. The occasionally tetchy forward was replaced by Elliot Anderson on 62.

Source: L'Équipe

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