No doubt Kylian Mbappé will be greeted with loud cheers and applause when he takes to the Parc des Princes pitch on Tuesday night.
It will be his final Champions League match in the French capital in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt.
Mbappé is leaving the club this summer after a seven-season stint, hoping that the journey concludes with a Champions League triumph in Wembley on June 1.
But first things first as Mbappé tries to engineer a fightback in the second leg of their semifinal against Borussia Dortmund, trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Germany last week.
The France striker was a disappointment in the first leg and PSG now expects a strong reaction from the club's all-time leading scorer to overturn the deficit, especially after he failed to score in his last two appearances against Dortmund.
"We’re confident we’ll come back from that score and qualify for the final,” Mbappé said on Sunday, as quoted by French media.
In support of Mbappé, PSG has plenty of firepower upfront, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani available.
Coach Luis Enrique has more worries in defense after former Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez was ruled out for the remainder of he season with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture that required surgery.
The injury was a tough blow for PSG, which has conceded 14 goals in the competition this season but finally stabilized the heart of its defense with the pairing of Marquinhos and Hernandez.
After Hernandez came off injured last week against Dortmund and was replaced by Lucas Beraldo, the Brazilian substitute's lack of experience was obvious.
Luis Enrique will, however, have to consider giving him a starting role, or put his trust in Milan Skriniar, who is back from injury and lacks both competition and rhythm. Another option would be to pair Danilo Pereira with Marquinhos to add strength and presence in the air, particularly on Dortmund's set pieces.
Solid defending will again be crucial for PSG, which faces a team with great attacking qualities and 11 different scorers on the European stage this season.
The winner will play Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in London. The old rivals drew 2-2 in their semifinal first leg in Germany.
PSG, which enjoyed a rest day over the weekend after wrapping up the French league title, has never won Europe's top club competition. Dortmund claimed the 1997 title.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
From left, Augsburg's Felix Uduokhai, Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko and Augsburg's Jeffrey Gouweleeuw fight for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg, in Dortmund, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Dortmund's Felix Nmecha, second from right, celebrates with his teammates after he scored his side's fifth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg, in Dortmund, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, is challenged by PSG's Lucas Hernandez during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe is in action during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
MIAMI (AP) — Josh Bell hit a tying homer off Edwin Díaz in a four-run ninth inning, the latest costly meltdown by the struggling New York Mets closer, and Otto Lopez singled home the winning run in the 10th as the Miami Marlins rallied for a 10-9 victory Saturday.
Lopez sent a one-out grounder up the middle off Jorge López (1-1) through a drawn-in infield to score automatic runner Christian Bethancourt from third base, and the last-place Marlins (15-32) stretched their winning streak to a season-best four games. It was Miami's fourth walk-off win of the year.
“It was nuts,” Bell said. “The fifth, sixth inning rolls around, you’re hearing the ‘Let’s go Mets’ chants. I know their fans travel well, but it was nice to hear our fans cheer."
Miami was down 9-5 in the ninth before Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled to drive in Vidal Bruján, who led off with a double against Díaz. Bryan De La Cruz reached on an infield single with one out, and Bell hammered Díaz's first-pitch slider 428 feet to straightaway center field for a three-run shot that tied it.
“Definitely up there (in my career)," Bell said. "I think just the situation in the game, and then that’s a future Hall of Famer out there — best closer in the game. So happy to help our team win there, but first and foremost, I don’t think I’ve gotten a hit against (Díaz) in the big leagues.”
Díaz wasn't charged with a blown save because he entered with a four-run lead. But he's blown two consecutive save chances and three of his last four. In his past three outings, he's allowed seven earned runs, seven hits, three walks and two homers over 2 1/3 innings. The star closer with a $102 million contract has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings.
“I won’t lie, my confidence I feel is down right now,” Díaz said. “I’m making pitches. I’m throwing strikes. I’m trying to do my best to help the team to win. Right now I’m not in that capacity.”
It was Díaz's first outing at Miami's home ballpark since he went down with a season-ending knee injury there in March 2023 while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
New York (20-25) lost for the seventh time in nine games — all against division opponents — and equaled a season worst of five games below .500 set with its 0-5 start.
Tanner Scott (3-4) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless 10th.
Miami had shut out its previous three opponents — including an 8-0 win over the Mets on Friday night — before J.D. Martinez ripped an RBI single off starter Braxton Garrett that scored Francisco Lindor in the first.
Garrett pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and six runs with five strikeouts and a walk.
Chisholm had three hits and three RBIs, including a solo homer off Mets starter Luis Severino in the third. Bell finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Severino gave up six hits and five runs in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander let the Marlins back in it in the seventh when he allowed a walk, a run-scoring double and a two-out RBI single that made it 7-4. Reed Garrett replaced Severino and gave up an RBI single to Bell before retiring Jesús Sánchez on a flyout to end the inning.
Martinez and Starling Marte each had an RBI double in the ninth to give the Mets a four-run cushion.
Marte finished with three hits. Harrison Bader and Jeff McNeil each had two RBIs for New York.
Lindor went hitless while batting leadoff for the first time this season, replacing Brandon Nimmo — who hit third — in a lineup shuffle that manager Carlos Mendoza hoped would generate more offense and spark the slumping Lindor.
Lindor reached base on a hit by pitch in the first and brought in a run on a groundout that broke a 2-all tie in the fourth. He also struck out in an 11-pitch at-bat in the second.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: Mendoza said RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder capsule strain) will throw a bullpen Sunday as he continues to shore up his mechanics. ... RHP Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) will throw a bullpen early next week. Mendoza said Smith has been playing catch and felt no “pinch” in his shoulder area.
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Sean Manaea (2-1, 3.05 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday against RHP Sixto Sánchez (0-1, 5.96).
A previous version of this story was corrected to indicate that Chisholm’s home run came in the third inning, not the second, and to clarify that Díaz's contract guarantees him $102 million, not $102.5 million.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo is congratulated by teammates after he scored on a single by Mark Vientos during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Mets' Starling Marte is hit in the foot by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Mets' Luis Severino delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Braxton Garrett delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, is congratulated by Starling Marte (6) after Lindor scored on a single by J.D. Martinez during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Mets' Harrison Bader (44) reacts after he struck out swinging during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Nick Gordon, left, Edward Cabrera, rear, and Trevor Rodgers, right, celebrate with Otto Lopez, center, after Lopez hit a single scoring Christian Bethancourt to beat the New York Mets 10-9, in 10 innings of a baseball game, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Josh Bell, left, celebrates with Bryan De La Cruz (14) after Bell hit a home run scoring De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr., during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Edward Cabrera, left, douses Otto Lopez after Lopez hit a single scoring Christian Bethancourt to beat the New York Mets 10-9, in 10 innings of a baseball game, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins second baseman Otto Lopez, center, is doused by Jazz Chisholm Jr., left rear, as Lopez does an interview after a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. Lopez hit a single to score Christian Bethancourt to beat the Mets 10-9 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez hits a single to score Christian Bethancourt to beat the New York Mets 10-9, in 10 innings of a baseball game, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
