Paris Saint-Germain may have launched its Champions League campaign in earnest on Wednesday January 22, with a stunning victory at the Parc des Princes against Manchester City (4-2). Trailing by two goals at the start of the second period, the Parisian players honored the motto of the capital: beaten by the waves, they did not sink and offered an exceptional turnaround in a few minutes, before winning largely against the English champions.
Thanks to this victory, which will be a benchmark match this season for PSG, Luis Enrique's team now has ten points and occupies 22nd place in the rankings for the first phase of the C1. The Parisians are virtually qualified, but will have to secure their place in the play-offs in Stuttgart, for the last day of this first round of the competition, Wednesday January 29.
What to remember
The cador. Joao Neves, from start to finish.
Yet confined to the right flank of the Parisian midfielder, the talented 20-year-old Portuguese shined this Wednesday on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. First in a defensive role, essential in the first period against the Mancunian attacks. Then the cornerstone of PSG, maneuvering each attack, until scoring his goal with a header as astonishing as it was decisive. Hats off.
The thread of the match.
0-1, 50e : Manuel Akanji overtakes Nuno Mendes on the left side before finding Bernardo Silva. Gianluigi Donnarumma performs a small miracle in front of the Portuguese, but the ball finally returns to the feet of Jack Grealish, who only has to score in the empty goal.
0-2, 53e : Jack Grealish is found in the interval, then sends a ball back, deflected by Joao Neves. Opportunistic and well placed, Erling Haaland just has to push it into the back of the net.
1-2, 56e : Fabian Ruiz finds Bradley Barcola, who makes a sublime little bridge over Matheus Nunes before resisting the return of Mateo Kovacic. The French winger then serves Ousmane Dembélé behind, who only has to adjust the ball into the goals.
2-2, 60e : Désiré Doué is served on the left, and attempts a curling shot, which falls on the crossbar. The ball miraculously returns to the feet of Bradley Barcola who, with a nice reflex, uses the post to equalize.
3-2, 78e : on an eccentric free kick taken by Vitinha, the ball goes to the far post, where Joao Neves, alone, places a diving header which beats Ederson.
4-2, 90ᵉ+ 3: on an aerial ball, Josko Gvardiol deflects the ball towards his own goals. The leather lands at the feet of Gonçalo Ramos, alone at the entrance to the penalty area. The striker just has to adjust Ederson with a flat right foot.
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The sentence. “The Parisians were more intense, more aggressive and they deserved to win this match” From Bernardo Silva on Canal+ microphone.
Nutrisport. A
After a somewhat ordinary first half, the second was splendid, thanks to the rides of Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola, the stunning storyline and constant intensity. This second period raises the rating of this match on our tool for measuring the quality of the sporting spectacle.
L’image.
