Opposed to City this Wednesday, at the Parc des Princes, during the 7th day, Paris plays one of its last cards to seek a place in the Champions League play-offs.
The feat or the big blur. Very good at creating chances but much less at making them happen, the PSG players got themselves into quite a pickle. Them. All alone. Like adults. Only two victories in their first six Champions League matches, seven small points and a modest 25th place in the standings. And even the 26th after Tuesday night's matches. Enough to approach the last two days with fear in my stomach. Or a tenfold desire, it depends. “We all have our heads in Manchester City», admitted Ousmane Dembélé after offering the Champions Trophy to his team (1-0), on January 5, in Doha, against AS Monaco.
Since then, Paris Saint-Germain has done the job (Saint-Etienne, Espaly, Lens). And it's finally the moment, the big moment. A victory and Paris joins the Top 24 before traveling to Stuttgart on January 29. In the event of a setback, we would have to win in Stuttgart in any case and… cross our fingers and hope for favorable results in the other matches. From the start, it has been estimated that 10 points will be enough to pass. A projection at the start of the season which still requires a reality check. If necessary, a victory in Stuttgart could be enough for the Parisians. Except that after Tuesday's matches, there are already 21 clubs with 10 points or more…
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City is doing better
To life and death? Not yet. But not far… Problem? It's not just any team that arrives at the Parc des Princes. “There is City now, a very small team», quipped Luis Enrique after the victory in Salzburg (0-3), mid-December. An English team picked up a few weeks ago but remains in six games without defeat, including four victories and a card on Sunday, at Ipswish (0-6). Maybe not the big City yet, but much better. Pep Guardiola's men, not much better off in the Champions League standings (22nd, 8 pts), have the opportunity to show that this disenchanted parenthesis is behind them.
One thing is certain: a Manchester City at the top is out of reach for this Paris Saint-Germain. As much as Arsenal (0-2) or Bayern Munich (0-1). The last time the two teams crossed swords at the Parc, in 2021, it was the Rouge et Bleu who won (2-0). A PSG led by Kylian Mbappé, Leo Messi and Neymar. It's no longer the same story. It is also the only Parisian victory against Man. City, in seven matches.
-Christian Hartmann / REUTERS
We should not count on a feat from newcomer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is not qualified for the C1. Very fit in recent weeks, Ousmane Dembélé would be well inspired to continue on this path. The excellent Achraf Hakimi too. Doubly decisive in Lens (1-2), Bradley Barcola is expected around the corner. The promoted Désiré Doué too. Even Gonçalo Ramos and Kang-in Lee. All those of good will will be welcome to try to shake the English nets. And if possible, not after the 15th opportunity… A chronic inefficiency which is not the result of chance, rather that of a policy made of youth and collective, ignoring the offensive stars. No scorer. No need, in the spirit of the gang of Luis, Enrique and Campos. In this kind of poster, it helps though…
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The football gods (finally) on the PSG side?
These great players that PSG believes they can do without make the difference even when the balance of power is balanced or reversed, when the collective machine is blocked, in short, in all circumstances. The nine or false nine debate makes no sense: Liverpool plays with Luis Diaz in the center, and he is not a pure center forward… On the other hand, the Reds can rely on the performances of the man named Mo Salah, right winger but above all scorer.
Parisian inefficiency in C1 is also defensive. However, facing Erling Haaland and company, it is better to be on your guard. Clearly, this downgraded Paris will have to force its nature to compete against Manchester City. And hope Guardiola's men are having a bad day. Lots of ifs, too many? This is the very high level. That's the Champions League. Certainly, the draw was not favorable to Luis Enrique's players. But now is not the time to complain. If they had refueled against PSV Eindhoven (1-1) and Atlético (1-2), they would not be almost obliged to win against a City team which is superior to them in terms of everything or almost. “Football is capricious», grince «I fight».
Perhaps the football gods will be merciful this time, after having been more than cruel so far… Otherwise, the sky will darken significantly over the Parisian project and its chief architect, Luis Enrique. “The only obligation for a player or a coach is to give 100%“, he assures. We'll see if everyone is as philosophical in the event of elimination.
