Winner without really having dominated its subject as it usually does, PSG did the job against Toulouse (3-0). A look back at the individual performances of the Parisians on a case-by-case basis.
Safonov: A surprise starter in goal, the Russian goalkeeper continued his encouraging performance against Lens. A second clean sheet in a row for him, in a PSG which sometimes has difficulty keeping clean sheets this season. Some very good saves including a nice double save at 1-0, or an inspired intervention following a Toulouse touch in the first half. At the foot, he sent his second restart of the match directly into the touchline, after which he ensured, without taking any risks. Can he now claim to shake up the hierarchy at the post?
Judge: A relatively paradoxical overall performance for the Moroccan full-back, captain for one evening in the absence of Marquinhos. On the one hand, an unfailing availability in his lane and a high total of contested balls (107, third best total of the match), as often under Luis Enrique. On the other hand, fewer changes of pace than usual and few truly sharp actions in the last thirty meters of the opponent… with the exception of an excellent cross for Neves to open the scoring, in a match which seemed average for his team. A salutary act of leadership. For the rest, Hakimi seemed to keep some under control, in anticipation of Tuesday's trip to Munich? Defensively, nothing to report, except an avoidable yellow card conceded when he broke down an opposing counter too aggressively.
Skriniar: 122 balls contested, match record, with application but as always without risk-taking or particular magic on the restart. A total inflated by a curious change of position at half-time, when he took the role of most central defender in the trio he formed with Neves and Beraldo. Defensively, around ten clearances and some good bursts at the opposing feet. The Slovak did the job, without a false note.
Beraldo: The Brazilian has been one of the relative disappointments of the Parisian season so far, because he is playing at a lower level than his first half-season at the club. This Friday, he regained some of his standing from last season, with constant defensive application and vigilance throughout. His match in progress and without notable errors was rewarded with the 2-0 goal, with a good half-volley. What really kicks off your season? Area of improvement for the evening concerning him: too little risk-taking with the ball even though he has ample capacity. He too has exceeded a hundred touches of the ball, and we have seen him attempt long openings only too rarely, to improve by regaining confidence.
Zague: The other relative surprise of the starting eleven had been aligned to the theoretical left-back position by his coach. Actually the third left-most central defender, he tried not to make any mistakes with the ball, mainly looking for lateral or back passes with his right foot. As for taking risks, we will come back, but the young full-back trained at the club had the merit of not making any notable errors. On the other hand, still naivety about opposing calls behind his back. Progress since his performance in the same position during the last reception of Toulouse in May, but perhaps not enough in the eyes of his coach who replaced him at half-time, even if he justified it otherwise.
Vitinha: It was the Portuguese who took his place at half-time, coming into midfield while Neves moved back to left-back. The former FC Porto player delivered a long average entry into play, in the tone of his start to the season far from his standards of the previous year. Paradoxically, a lot of balls touched (68, a very high total in just one half), for an often anecdotal use. Worse, he was unable to influence the course of events during his team's big slump in the middle of the half. Fortunately, his evening ended well with a beautiful goal at 3-0, from close range, following an action that he had initiated from his camp, for his first goal of the season in the game.
João Neves: As often, the defector from Benfica showed generosity and great activity during most of the match, but he also lacked impact on the course of events… with the exception of his very nice goal 1-0, with a volley from eighteen meters which did a lot of good for his team before returning to the locker room. Half-time twist: Neves moved back to left-back. Far from being familiar with the position, he showed diligence but he also sometimes suffered in the management of depth. An experiment likely to be renewed, especially if Mendes' absence continues?
Zaire-Emery: The best Parisian midfielder throughout the match. Bleeding projections in Toulouse's last thirty meters, authoritarian defensive returns at the opposing feet, and intelligent compensations as always. Also, a superb tackle after a thirty-meter race which was worth a goal, five meters from his goal while Aboukhlal was preparing to arm his shot, in the 70th minute. A huge restart error a minute later, fortunately without consequences. The French international first tried a heavy strike in the first half and thought he had his goal in the 55th minute from close range, but Asensio was offside. An achievement that would have come at just the right time to make a successful match a reality.
Gifted : Positioned as a left relay player, the defector from Rennes did not score any points. Diligent, visibly eager to apply the staff's instructions, he nevertheless forgot to take risks and his overall performance turned out to be tasteless. We didn't find him in any of the good Parisian moves, he barely shifted Hakimi for the penultimate pass of the 1-0, but the hardest part was done by the Moroccan then by Neves after him. Obviously insufficient in the eyes of Luis Enrique who took him out just before the hour mark. To truly launch his season, Doué will have to come back.
Lee : The South Korean took his place, first post for post before taking the role of right striker. An entry without any particular relief, activity and accuracy but, in the range of notable actions, there is only one strike that started well to report, which is not much.
Dembélé: At rest during the break, the wisp on the right side had legs, and it showed. He largely dynamited the Toulouse defense during the first twenty minutes, with ball catches that sowed discord and well-felt passes in the last third of the field. But as the minutes passed, the former Barça player gradually lost influence, and his last fifty minutes on the pitch were far from unforgettable. Note, relatively well taken set pieces, in the right areas.
Fabian Ruiz : The Spaniard replaced him for the last twenty minutes, Lee then joining the attack line and Ruiz taking the position of left relay. The former Naples player will have contributed to the good last quarter of an hour in Paris with some well-felt vertical passes and a real desire to project himself into the last opposing third.
Asensio : Very theoretical striker of this PSG made in Luis Enrique, the Spaniard was the author of a frustrating match. Activity, rezoning, although sometimes too much because even in low areas of the land which nevertheless did not lack Parisians to occupy them. In the final third, bad choices, imprecision and Toulouse legs which dragged to thwart his attempts. His placement on the goal refused to Zaire-Emery was the reason for the invalidation of the goal. A frustrating evening and generally one to forget for him.
Barcola: A performance far from expectations for the championship's top scorer, who never seemed in the right mood on the pitch at the Parc des Princes. Intermittent in the first half and victim of slips and technical inaccuracies, he completely disappeared after the break, with the exception of a slight rebound five minutes before his exit. Gaining consistency and showing yourself capable of responding to an opponent of the caliber of this TFC, very average this evening, will prove crucial in order to continue your learning.
First Class : The former Frankfurter replaced him for the last quarter of an hour, and he was the author of a very successful entry. Combative and inspired in his choices, he perfectly offsets Vitinha for the 3-0 goal.
