They were keen to raise the fever and bring the thrill that sticks to the body to an entire audience who were just asking to dance in the rain. Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola: it was an association of benefactors who embodied the Parisian revolt this Tuesday evening and allowed PSG supporters to get through an absolutely stunning second half against Manchester City (4-2).
The kind of ones you’ll want to tell over the coffee machine the next morning, with a big smile, remembering each other’s exploits. We thought Luis Enrique’s team was in bad shape, on the verge of collapse and suffocated by the two goals conceded in quick succession after returning from the locker room (0-2). But the two French internationals, authors of the first two goals, had things to make up for and scores to settle, each in their own right, to put their team into orbit.
The 2018 world champion was champing at the bit for 45 minutes and a first period spent on the bench when he imagined he was starting. Luis Enrique had decided otherwise by choosing to miss Ousmane Dembélé at the kick-off, affected by a viral syndrome which weakened him during the days preceding this shock. A decision motivated by medical reasons? Not really since, according to our information, number 10 felt fit and ready to defend his place against Pep Guardiola’s men.
The tactical choice of the Parisian coach, who preferred Kang-in Lee, did not really have the desired effect with a particularly lackluster performance from the South Korean. And seeing number 19 come out during the break seemed like a form of admission from the former La Roja coach: he was wrong.
-Liberation for Barcola
Approved upon his entry, “Dembouz” wasted no time in making him lie and placed the first blade by reducing the gap with a calm strike (56th). A goal, his twelfth of the season, almost all thanks to the complicity of Barcola, decisive passer. After experiencing a soulless first act, number 29 (finally) put the punch needed to erase Nunes and serve his teammate in ideal conditions.
The second blade fell four minutes later, when the former Lyonnais came to confirm that the revival of form in 2025 could find its extension in Europe by being on the landing of the ball which had just hit the bar on a strike from Désiré Gifted. A second achievement in the Champions League which came at the right time for Barcola whose joy said everything about the feeling of liberation which inhabited him.
In the meantime, Ousmane Dembélé had found the crossbar (70th) following a small bridge over Bernardo Silva. Enough to increase tenfold the excitement which won over the Parisian supporters who gave Barcola a standing ovation at the time of his exit (80th). A nice way to thank him for this Wednesday evening fever.
