Despite the much-anticipated return of Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) couldn't deliver a winning performance, settling for a 1-1 draw against Toulouse in the French league. Starting off the bench, Mbappe replaced Lee Kang-in in the 51st minute, hoping to give PSG the offensive push they needed. It wasn't long before the French striker earned and converted a penalty in the 62nd minute, following a foul by Rasmus Nicolaisen.
Even with the lead, PSG's gameplay wasn't convincing. A golden opportunity presented itself to Vitinha in the 77th minute, but the Portuguese midfielder's effort was off the mark. PSG's missed opportunity was quickly exploited as Zakaria Aboukhlal from Toulouse capitalized, equalizing with a penalty after being fouled by Achraf Hakimi.
PSG's coach, Luis Enrique, reflecting on the team's performance, said, “We had a good rhythm in the first 60 minutes. The opponent barely came close to our goal. After the goal, we entered a phase a bit more crazy with a lack of control. I know many people don’t like possession, but I love that."
Meanwhile, the cloud surrounding Mbappe's relationship with PSG seems to be lifting. The forward had earlier been sidelined due to a contract disagreement. Yet, his quick inclusion in the team after PSG's goalless draw with Lorient suggests bridges are being rebuilt.
New addition to PSG's lineup, Ousmane Dembele, who joined from Barcelona, also made his debut in the match, showing glimpses of his potential by setting up Vitinha’s chance.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Lyon's woes continued as they suffered a stinging 4-1 defeat to Montpellier. Alexandre Lacazette's frustrations were evident when he was red-carded in the 80th minute for a harsh tackle. Montpellier's Mousa Al-Tamari was the standout performer, scoring twice.
Lyon's coach, Laurent Blanc, voiced his concerns about the team's performance: "It's probably a problem of confidence, and it’s probably a problem of level, too." He highlighted the club's need for reinforcements, especially for competing for European spots. However, financial challenges have restricted Lyon's recruitment activities this summer.
The match between Lyon and Montpellier was rescheduled due to a regional heatwave, adding another layer to this intense weekend of Ligue 1 action.
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