Trailing against the run of play by two goals, PSG revolted in incredible fashion to overturn Manchester City and win in very good fashion (4-2). A look back at the individual performances of the Parisians on a case-by-case basis.
Donnarumma: The Italian goalkeeper certainly conceded two goals but he was nevertheless the author of a great performance in his cage. In the first half, it was he who kept Paris afloat in the face of powerful shots from De Bruyne and Savinho. He also came close to preventing the first goal but had to give up despite a double save. He was no longer called upon after that except with his feet where he always assured or in the air where he showed a welcome authority.
Judge: Overall without Dembélé on his side even if the duo reformed at the end of the match, the Moroccan had a less important offensive role than usual even if he once again increased the back and forth, but he exercised more caution. This did not prevent him from scoring a goal, ultimately refused, just before the break or from giving away some interesting balls, particularly on long crosses. Defensively, he was sometimes a little light against Savinho and gave Grealish some freedom. A sober match in the end, far from the brilliance it usually has.
Marquinhos: Back in central defense, the captain quickly entered the game and was very attentive throughout the match. Sometimes physically dominated, he always made sure to defend cleanly so as not to give away a free kick or penalty, especially when Savinho found himself in the area in a good position. The Citizens regularly played directly and he was generally well placed to cut off these counterattacks.
There : Faced with a client like Erling Haaland, he sometimes had difficulty imposing his physique and did not always frame the impressive Norwegian well. The Ecuadorian tried to impose his power or his speed but he did not always succeed even if he managed some very good interventions close to his goal. With the ball, he kept it very simple and therefore made no mistakes but he could sometimes be limiting in the circulation of the ball.
Nuno Mendes: The left back once again had a roller coaster match, especially in his defensive part. Because the Portuguese is very at fault on the first goal, overwhelmed like a child by Akanji, and still very involved on the second, but he also managed an excellent return on Haaland in the open area before half-time. With the ball, he certainly missed a few restarts but was a valuable solution for his team when coming out from behind, whether by passing or running. And in the last third of the field, he was impactful on a regular basis, to the point of finishing as a winger. But his defensive errors are costly.
Vitinha: As expected, the little Portuguese was the sentinel of the PSG midfield and he had his usual match where he gradually gained strength. Rather subdued in the first period despite his usual ability to distribute the game calmly, it was especially after the break when Paris needed to let loose that Vitinha gave his full measure. An ideal partner to relieve his defenders on restarts, very present in recovery while fighting with his limited resources, he was also effective in getting the ball back and launching offensives. The icing on the cake was this fantastic free kick to score Neves.
Fabian Ruiz : Placed as a left relay player, the Spaniard was quickly in the mood of the match, notably because his technical accuracy allowed PSG to take the ball out from behind and his trunk offered him the possibility of covering a wide area, to press or push City back. Not really sharp on the edge of the opponent’s area, he was nevertheless a valuable relay in ball circulation, finding himself involved in both goals. Also note a great opportunity in the first period, repelled by an exploit from Gvardiol on the line.
Zaire-Emery replaced him after the hour mark and the young midfielder entered position for position. In a very different style from Ruiz, he brought impact in recovering the ball, the English discovering the phenomenon, but also running forward with the ball at his feet which hurt the opposing defense. A very nice entry in the end.
-João Neves: Even if he had not scored with an impeccable header at the far post which allowed Paris to take the lead, the Portuguese would have been a very credible candidate for man of the match. Placed as a very free right relay player, Neves was in almost all the actions, deploying crazy energy to the four corners of the field. Always there to harass and fight to recover the ball, he then put on his conductor’s clothes to masterfully direct the game, avoiding opponents and set traps. Everything was fair and efficient on his part, even beautiful most of the time. A very great match, from a player who will be very loved.
Gifted : For his first start at the Parc in the Champions League, the very free right winger quickly entered the match and even carried his team in the first minutes. Inspired and impactful, ready to set the stadium on fire, he then got a little lost in his choices but he never lost the thread of his match. The waste in his game is logical but his perpetual desire to recover the ball as well as to make it live and his permanent activity are a poison for the opponent who cannot leave him the slightest freedom. He also hurt his last action, a superb strike on the crossbar that Barcola was able to convert into a goal.
Gonçalo Ramos replaced it and it was initially much sought after as a pivot or in combination in complicated areas. The results were logically not there but the Portuguese was not discouraged and continued to offer himself. The first opportunity was not the right one despite good control, the second ended up in the back of the net after a good sequence from the attacker. From the supersub entry as he knows how to pull it off so well.
Lee : Positioned in a false point but regularly switching with his partners in front, the South Korean tried to animate the attack but his aversion to the opposing surface is a real concern in this position and his desire to never lose the ball is sometimes turns against him. His set pieces weren’t really interesting either, but he was valuable defensively, coordinating the Parisian pressure.
Dembele’s replaced him at the break and City were quick to see the difference in terms of imbalance. Clearly not 100% as the way he saved himself on certain defensive sequences proves it, he was on the other hand a permanent danger when it came to attacking. He plays the shot remarkably well on the 1-2, stopping his run like a scorer, while his percussion with the ball on the right side was an ordeal for the opposing defense to manage. In one half and barely out of the flu, Dembélé did everything to them.
Barcola: Positioned on the left, the Parisian winger took a long time to start his match, active but too timid when it came to triggering truly destabilizing actions. But at 0-2, it was him and no one else who woke up his team and the entire stadium with a crazy race concluded by a perfect back cross. Not unhappy in the process when equalizing, he then finished well, multiplying the cutting actions as if he was finally launched. Finally the performance of the trigger in the Champions League?
Hernandez replaced him for the end of the match and he immediately brought his toughness to the duels. With the ball, he tried to play simple so as not to lose it.
