Girona: what to remember from the big premiere of Matvey Safonov?

“I’m not ready to sit on the bench. A lot depends on me. It’s up to me to do my best. I don’t see myself as a number two. I don’t want to be a backup player. If they make me a number 2, things are not going to be easy for the number 1.”. This is what Matvey Safonov, aged 25, said when he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain. Recruited this summer by the capital club for around twenty million euros from Krasnodar, the 1m92 right-hander – presented as number 1 bis, capable of competing, in the long term, with Gianluigi Donnarumma – made his big debut in the Parisian jersey on the occasion of the reception of Girona (1-0).

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Thrown into the deep end for this first day of the Champions League, the Russian international with 13 caps took advantage of the injury of the Italian giant, injured against Brest, to show his qualities to the residents of the Parc des Princes. Ambitious and with four matches at this level in his career (double confrontation against Rennes, Chelsea and Seville in 2020), Safonov finally offered himself a nice clean sheet. Rarely worried during a game where the Blanquivermells only found the frame once (3 attempts), the Parisian number 39 nevertheless held his own.

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Successful debut for Safonov!

Reassuring in each of his interventions (5th, 34th), precise in his footwork and cheered by the Parisian supporters throughout the evening, Safonov was especially decisive when he pushed away Viktor Tsygankov’s header (52nd). A valuable save at a time when the capital club was still hanging on and was having a hard time getting rid of the intensity put in by the Spanish team. Credited with a 5.5 by the FM editorial team, the Russian, who was celebrating his 13th match on the European stage, was therefore present.

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“He had a very good match, he gave us a lot of security. He has the confidence of the whole team. I am very happy that he feels good.”noted Willian Pacho in this light, present in the mixed zone a few moments after this unexpected success. “I am satisfied with the performance of all my players”Luis Enrique stressed in a press conference. While the first few minutes played by the Krasnodar native in the Parisian jersey should not, in any case, call into question the current hierarchy in this position, his performance confirms, however, that he represents a reliable alternative. This Saturday, during the trip to Reims for the 5th day of Ligue 1, Matvey Safonov could also have a new chance to show off, at a time when Gianluigi Donnarumma is recovering from thigh discomfort.