Here, the PSG finishes first of its group after its great success on Basaksehir. It will still be necessary to have a memory and remember that the course of the Parisians was not easy, far from it. Two more than complicated confrontations against Leipzig, a debacle at the Parc against Manchester… There were also good moments: the great collective reaction at Old Trafford and this very pleasant match against the Turkish club. A match that resumed in the 14th minute after the incidents on Tuesday to which we will not return, except to underline the beautiful circle formed by the 22 players, on their knees and their fists raised during the anthem of the Champions League,.
For 70 minutes, we were treated to “Neymar the enchanting”, the one that some dare to call “the starlet”. Well the starlet wishes you good morning: three goals, a penalty caused and construction on the last goal. Decisive 65 times in 65 UCL games. I know that it is useless to try to convince the haters but I keep repeating since he is in Paris that we are incredibly lucky to have such an exceptional player in a French team. His first goal is fantastic: small bridge and shot coiled in the scope. He is well served by Mbappé on the second, he causes the penalty on the third – and leaves it to the French striker who puts an end to his shortage in the LDC -, a new magnificent strike outside the 16 meters for the fourth and before -last pass for Di Maria who slips an offering to Mbappé on the fifth …
Once again, Tuchel had innovated with a 5-3-2 which could seem very defensive to face at the Park a team of the level of Basaksehir but which turned out to be quite balanced in the end. And then Di Maria returned to midfield. It’s something that interests me a lot, that I have wanted to see for many long seasons at PSG and that will perhaps, I say maybe, become reality in the coming weeks. With him and Verratti in the middle in front of a sentry (Paredes or Danilo, your choice), the Parisian midfield would offer new perspectives …
The OOM is offensive
The match took place in an excellent climate and with a good referee, who showed psychology when he could have sent off Crivelli who, whatever the jersey he wears, remains a terrible nag. The job is done for PSG, who will be seeded for the round of 16 and will not have a suspension – while Neymar, Verratti and Paredes were under threat. So it’s a beautiful evening. Now we have to hope that the knockout phase in February will be with a crowd in the stadiums, because there are enough of these games played in front of empty seats.
And then in the evening, OM believed in it for a half. With Porto leading the Olympiakos field, holding a draw at the Etihad Stadium in front of a reshaped and uninspired City side, the Olympians were virtually eligible for the Europa League at halftime. Only, the Villas-Boas players cracked from the restart on a goal from Torres. From there, City confiscated the ball and Marseille, not at the level physically and harmless in front – Thauvin and Germain were non-existent, only Payet seemed to me in progress – conceded two more goals.
OM were not ridiculous in this match and even provided themselves with a few chances but therefore ended their European adventure as they had started: with a defeat. The final result is therefore as follows: a victory gained thanks to two penalties and five losses conceded without scoring. It’s not enough. And it is not on this match against the players of Guardiola that we must have regrets. On the other hand, the Phocaeans may blame themselves for not having pushed last week to score this third goal against Olympiakos which would have given them the particular goal average vis-à-vis the Greeks.
Pierrot
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