DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the fourth day meeting between Paris and the Colchoneros.
After its draw against PSV (1-1), PSG continues with a second match in a row at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League. Luis Enrique's players, poorly placed in the C1 rankings, will host Atlético Madrid this Wednesday (9 p.m.), during the fourth day. A match broadcast by Canal+ and which you can follow live with commentary on our site.
What journey so far?
Dominant in domestic games, PSG only collected four points during its first three European outings of the season. A miraculous victory against Girona (1-0), a failed match at Arsenal (2-0 defeat) and an infuriating draw against PSV Eindhoven (1-1). In the rankings, Paris started this fourth day in 19th place. Good for a jump seat in a dam. Not bright or reassuring. Especially since the schedule awaiting the Rouge et Bleu promises to be tough, with Atlético, but also Bayern Munich and Manchester City to follow, among others. However, this match is notnot decisive“, according to Luis Enrique. “If a team loses (this) Wednesday but wins the following four matches, it will qualify without worry“, he added. It's not wrong. Note that Atlético Madrid is not better off. Even worse in fact. After beating Leipzig (3-2), the Matelassiers exploded on the Benfica field (4-0) before submitting to the law of Lille, in Madrid (1-3). The best defense in La Liga is taking on water in Europe.
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What history between the two clubs?
Virgin. Atlético Madrid is one of the rare big European names that PSG has never faced until now. Paris has often played against Spanish clubs, notably Real and Barça, but also Sevilla, Real Sociedad, La Coruna, Bilbao, Valencia, Santander and, this season, Girona. Not the Colchoneros. Among the most famous clubs on the Old Continent, the Parisians have not yet played against Inter Milan and Tottenham. Note that several PSG players have already scored against Atlético, when they played in La Liga, Ousmane Dembélé and Marco Asensio.
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Finally a goal for the Parisian attackers?
After three matches in C1, PSG has only scored two goals. It's weak… Above all, neither of his two goals can be credited to the attackers. In fact, they are both due to an error by the opposing goalkeeper. Paulo Gazzaniga scored directly against his side during PSG-Girona, on a strike from Nuno Mendes. And Walter Benitez went astray on a long shot from Achraf Hakimi. Not only did the attackers not score, but they were not even involved in these two goals! Remember that Ousmane Dembélé was dismissed for Arsenal. The fact remains that PSG needs goals from its attackers, “Dembouz” and Bradley Barcola in the lead. Chick? “I have no doubt: we will be one of the teams that scores the most. When will it trigger? I don't know», notes “Lucho”. The sooner the better… Note that Barcola is at the top of the L1 scorers' rankings (8 goals). In C1, he only scored one goal in 13 matches.
Who, PSG or Atlético, spent the most last summer?
Once is not customary, it's Atlético. The Colchoneros spent €185 million excluding bonuses last summer, including €75 million for Argentine international striker Julian Alvarez, a defector from Manchester City. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea, €42 million), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad, €34.5 million) and Alexander Sorloth (Villarreal, €32 million) also strengthened Diego Simeone's group. The Parisians, for their part, spent a little less than €170 million excluding bonuses to secure the services of Joao Neves (Benfica, €60 million), Désiré Doué (Rennes, €50 million), Willian Pacho (Frankfurt, €40 million). €) and Matfey Safonov (Krasnodar, €20 million). Remember that Chelsea swallowed up nearly €239 million during the transfer window.
Safonov or Donnarumma, who in the Parisian goals?
Suspense. Before PSG-Lens (1-0), we even mentioned “the Safonov mystery» on our site, wondering why PSG had gone for the goalkeeper of the Russian team for €20 million last summer. But it was Matfey Safonov who kept the Parisian goals on Saturday. And Luis Enrique made no secret that it was a tactical choice. The question is whether the hierarchy is really being called into question. As for PSG-Atlético, “vou will find out tomorrowthe Spanish coach had fun on Tuesday, facing the press. “After a good cappuccino, I will decide tomorrow morning who will be the goalkeeper I think is best suited to play“, he added, emphasizing that “the three (Donnarumma, Safonov and Tenas) are ready to play, that's the most important thing. If one of them wakes up with a fever, and one of the three is sick, what do we do? Do we cry or laugh? Tomorrow morning, we'll first check that everyone is okay. And then we will decide who will be the lucky 11 who will start the match. But everyone is a number 1».
