<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot but Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday in a game overshadowed by reports claiming the France star is so unhappy at the club he wants to leave in January.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PSG would have qualified for the last 16 from Group H with two games to spare by beating the Portuguese giants at the Parc des Princes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They took the lead when Mbappe slotted in a penalty five minutes before half-time, only for Joao Mario to level from the spot for Benfica just after the hour mark.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sides are level on eight points at the top of the group, five ahead of Juventus and Israel's Maccabi Haifa, who claimed a stunning 2-0 win over the Italians earlier on Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PSG, who are top of Ligue 1, should still advance comfortably to the knockout phase but all is far from rosy in the French capital.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The club was unsettled ahead of this match by reports that Mbappe wants away already, a little over four months after turning down a move to Real Madrid to sign a new three-year contract in Paris.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I found it bizarre that such a story should come out just a few hours before such an important match for the club," coach Christophe Galtier told broadcaster Canal Plus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"He gave a very good response by scoring a goal. He was creative, dangerous and he could have scored a second."</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>- Club denial -</b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The story in question was published by Madrid-based sports daily Marca and later by several French media, but PSG firmly denied any suggestion that their superstar striker could depart during the next transfer window.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am with Kylian Mbappe every day and he has never spoken to me about leaving in January," PSG's football advisor Luis Campos told Canal Plus ahead of the game.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mbappe's apparent unhappiness appears to stem from the club's failure to sign a new centre-forward during the close season, with Robert Lewandowski among the players linked with the Qatar-owned outfit before eventually choosing Barcelona.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PSG also missed out to West Ham United for Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mbappe, 23, hinted at his frustration after playing for France last month, saying he has "much more freedom" when on international duty playing off Olivier Giroud.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At PSG he forms part of an all-star front three, sharing the limelight with Neymar and Lionel Messi, although the latter was absent on Tuesday with a calf problem.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi had scored PSG's goal in a 1-1 draw in Lisbon last week and without the Argentine they lacked some inspiration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Starting from a position on the left of the attack, Mbappe appeared isolated at times and only showed flashes of his brilliance before the penalty came late in the first half.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Juan Bernat was fouled by teenage Benfica defender Antonio Silva in the box, and Mbappe sent goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos the wrong way from the spot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was his 12th club goal in 13 games this season, one more than Neymar and four more than Messi.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is also now PSG's all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 31 goals, one more than Edinson Cavani.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mbappe came close to scoring again early in the second half with a curling shot that ended up just the wrong side of the far post, and instead Benfica equalised in the 62nd minute.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">English referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty after reviewing images of Marco Verratti's needless challenge on Rafa Silva just inside the area, and Joao Mario smashed in the spot-kick to secure a point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"To get a draw is a top performance from the players," said Benfica coach Roger Schmidt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mbappe did have the ball in the net again with an acrobatic volleyed effort late on, but the goal was disallowed for a clear offside, before he was substituted off in the dying minutes after hurting an ankle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"He had to grit his teeth to carry on at the end because he was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle which could have led to a sending off," said Galtier.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"But Kylian gave a response to the rumours." AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>