Tops
- The serenity of the (future) champion
The Parisians could have pulled out the pin when François Letexier decided not to expel Wilfried Singo. They could have collapsed when Maghnès Akliouche and his friends took the lead at the start of the second half. But the Parisians, in control, never left their match. This match will necessarily make the difference as Monaco, one of PSG’s main competitors, is now 10 points away in the standings. After having swept away OM (0-3) and OL (3-1), it is ASM which is logically beaten. Between Paris and the rest of the L1, there is a world of difference. On the field and in the standings.
- Akliouche’s second half
Absent from the debates before the break, Maghnès Akliouche did his team no favors. But his awakening, brutal and spectacular, almost single-handedly restarted the meeting. He first obtained a penalty on his own after a recovery and a nice strike before offering the 2-1 goal to Breel Embolo. The pearl of the ASM continued but his teammates, like Minamino messy on one of his excellent serves, were not always up to the task.
- The composure of Luis Enrique
Faced with the sinking of François Letexier, Luis Enrique was Olympian calm on his bench. The Spanish coach never added fuel to the fire. An admirable behavior in every way which also conveyed serenity to the meeting. “It’s difficult to referee this kind of match, the player didn’t want to hurt,” said the Spaniard after the match. Classy all the way. It was finally Adi Hütter who complained a lot and ended up in the stands for having fumed against an imaginary penalty…
Gianluigi Donnarumma injured by Wilfried Singo during Monaco – PSG
Credit: Getty Images
Flops
- Letexier completely overwhelmed
The gesture was not intentional but the violence of the shock would have deserved a heavier sanction. In the second half, Lamine Camara, also already warned, dried up Désiré Doué by grabbing the leg of the young Parisian. Here again, the referee stuck his head in the sand. Two decisions that are difficult to justify. And what about this generous penalty awarded to Monaco for an unintentional and difficult to avoid handball from Marquinhos? That’s a lot…
Gianluigi Donnarumma injured by Wilfried Singo during Monaco – PSG
Credit: Getty Images
Kehrer eaten on a corner, Singo lagging behind Dembélé, Salisu generally lost: as often this season, Monaco sank, weighed down by a clumsy defense which made too many mistakes to hope for better. This was already the case, for example, last week at Arsenal. What separates Monaco from the highest level today is undoubtedly the naivety of its rearguard. Indeed, it’s difficult to hope for anything when conceding four goals against PSG.
- Marquinhos, Barcola: only shadows on the board
In Paris, everything is fine and this is not to condemn Bradley Barcola and Marquinhos but the two men had a complicated evening. The Brazilian defender conceded a penalty. If it is difficult to hold this hand against him in the area which he can hardly avoid, we must not forget that the action begins with a completely missed raise. It could have been expensive. Barcola, for his part, never weighed on the course of the match as often happens to him in the Champions League. Nothing worrying but fortunately Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé were more inspired than him.
