PSG traveled to Clermont-Ferrand this evening to challenge Espaly, resident of National 3, for a round of 16 of the Coupe de France well within reach of Luis Enrique’s men. At the Marcel-Michelin stadium, usual home of ASM Clermont Auvergne in rugby. The Parisians suffered this evening, but finally won their ticket for the round of 16 of the competition.
The evening started very badly for PSG. The Parisians seemed disconnected at the start of the match, and the consequences were immediate: Espaly opened the scoring to everyone’s surprise after just three minutes. Luis Enrique’s men finally got going and called on Espaviot goalkeeper Jordan Etienne several times. The latter finally cracked in the 37th minute of play on a precise strike from Warren Zaire-Emery which equalized for PSG.
In the second period, Désiré Doué allowed his team to take the lead for the first time in the game. A short-lived advantage for Paris, which saw Espaly equalize and reset the scorers to 0 nine minutes later through Maxence Fournel. At the very end of the match, Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos finally allowed PSG to obtain a victory by forceps, in a match to forget.
The Spanish goalkeeper can do much better on Espaly’s surprise opener in the third minute of play. His anticipation of Mezaber’s cross, deflected by Lucas Hernandez, harms him. Gjeci can calmly conclude afterwards.
Arnau Tenas then had nothing to sink his teeth into until the 62nd minute, and a headed ball in the Parisian area was easily captured by the former Barcelona player. Nine minutes later, he made a nice save on Fournel’s shot. The ball, however, returns to the feet of the Espaviot attacker, who can finish in two stages and equalize for Espaly (2-2, 71st).
It is from his right lane that the cross which created Espaly’s opening score comes. Yoram Zague is easily taken behind his back and seems to be able to come back much faster. The young Parisian was then able to take advantage of little adversity on his side to multiply the runs behind the opposing defense. However, the races were too hasty at times, with the Parisian being flagged offside several times.
Yoram Zague will not play the second half, he is replaced by Nuno Mendes (7/10), the Portuguese offered victory to Paris Saint-Germain. A decisive passer first for Bradley Barcola, he also obtained the penalty converted by Gonçalo Ramos at the end of the match.
Surprise start and first professional match this evening for young Axel Tape. And the French U18 international will never really get into his match, like a largely avoidable loss of the ball in his defense, or his poor exit far from his zone which offers a great opportunity to Espaly in the back of the Parisian rearguard.
In the second half, his intervention on Allaigre’s center was far too imprecise. The ball returns to the feet of Fournel who finishes in two stages against Tenas. A professional first unfortunately to be forgotten for the Parisian.
Replaced by Willian Pacho in the 72nd minute.
He is also not exempt from any criticism regarding the opponent’s opening score. He can and must come out faster on Mezaber to prevent the latter’s cross. He will ultimately only be able to deflect it, enough to allow Gjeci to receive the ball with his head and score. Lucas Hernandez subsequently had a decent match, although sometimes in difficulty in the face of the excellent match put up by the Espaviot attackers.
Starting at left back this evening, João Neves also had a complicated evening. He appeared dangerous in the opponent’s area shortly before the half-hour mark: his header escaped the target of Jordan Etienne. Replaced on the right in the second half after the entry of Nuno Mendes, the young Portuguese’s match was no more conclusive, pushed into mistakes a few times by Espaly’s attackers. He even received a yellow card at the end of the match.
Active in the Parisian midfield, Warren Zaire-Emery lands a perfect shot at the entrance to the Espaviot area. The latter is lodged in the small left net of Jordan Etienne, and allows PSG to equalize (1-1, 37th). Like his teammates in midfield, WZE then had difficulty showing himself, despite his always present combativeness.
After his good performance against AS Saint-Etienne on Sunday, Senny Mayulu wanted to continue this evening. He calls on Jordan Etienne at the half-hour mark and forces the French goalkeeper to repel the Parisian titi’s attempt with his foot. This is all that the midfielder will have to eat as he gives up his place upon returning from the locker room.
Replaced in the 45th minute by Kang-In Lee (4/10), which forced Jordan Etienne to intervene on a distant but on-target shot from the Korean shortly after the hour mark. His match was then not flamboyant, not too dangerous in midfield.
Captain of PSG this evening, Fabian Ruiz was one of those players who could take advantage of this match to score points. And the Spaniard will not have scored many points. After a sluggish first period, during which he failed to showcase himself, he was the third Parisian to give up his place at the start of the second half.
Replaced in the 45th minute by Vitinha (5/10), who inherits his teammate’s armband, and will have brought a little more personality than Fabian to the Parisian midfield.
Gonçalo Ramos simply did not have any clear opportunities to obtain in this part. Muzzled by the Espaviot defenders, he cannot take back the rare crosses which were sent to him. However, he saved his match at the very end of the match: the former Benfica player transformed without trembling a penalty obtained by Nuno Mendes, and made the break for Paris (4-2, 90th + 2).
In great difficulty in recent weeks, Bradley Barcola should take advantage of this game to build up his confidence, while it is only a matter of time before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia comes to compete with him on his left wing. Some differences made during the first period, but it’s too little for the former Lyon player.
He swaps with Désiré Doué on the right flank after returning from the locker room, and is a decisive passer for the latter, his back cross allows his compatriot to finish in the empty goal. The passer then turns into a scorer: Bradley Barcola takes Nuno Mendes’ very good cross and gives PSG the advantage (3-2, 88th). A game of ups and downs for the Parisian.
For Paris’ first big chance, which came a quarter of an hour into the game, the former Rennes man came up against a decisive Jordan Etienne. Désiré Doué is then the most dangerous attacker on the PSG side. Lots of dribbles attempted by number 11 in the evening, which made the difference many times.
Perfectly served by Lee shortly before the hour mark, the international Espoir completely missed his face to face with the Espaviot goalkeeper, his shot flying into the bays of the Marcel-Michelin stadium. Finally, Désiré Doué is present at the far post to take Bradley Barcola’s perfect cross, and give PSG the advantage for the first time in the match (2-1, 67th). He then missed the opportunity to score a double at the end of the game, his shot failing on Jordan Etienne’s right post.
FIND THE LATEST NEWS AROUND PSG, TRANSFERS RUMORS AND THE LATEST NEWS ON OUR DEDICATED WHATSAPP CHANNEL
Related News :