Paris Saint-Germain: Messi, Neymar and Mbappé worked for the first time – just a snapshot?

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The game against Pep Guardiola’s team is not likely to point the way for the future, PSG is usually the favorite and will also play dominantly against top opponents after a corresponding finding phase.

Messi as the wrong winger – Hakimi as the Alves double

In the (few) longer ball possession phases against City you could already see what the offensive game of the French champions could look like in the future. Messi occupies the right half space and vacates the wing. The closer the Argentine is to the center, the more pass options he has and, accordingly, he is dangerous for the opponent. With Achraf Hakimi he has a right-back behind him who is extremely offensive and can plow the side largely alone with his running skills.

For a long time at FC Barcelona Messi formed an almost defensible partnership on the (half) right side with Dani Alves, who showed a similar forward drive. If the opposing left-back calls with Messi, he leaves the defensive chain – and Hakimi can push into this room at high speed. However, if Messi’s opponent stays in the chain, the left-footer in midfield can receive passes, turn around and make his dreaded passes through the interfaces.

This is where Mbappé comes into play, who, with players like Neymar and Messi at his side, can fully concentrate on the way into the box. The Frenchman basically likes to move a little to the left in order to approach the goal diagonally with his strong foot. If Messi has the ball on the right, Mbappé can start from the left behind the chain and should be found regularly with Messi’s skills in the passing game.

Neymar and Messi as double playmakers

Against Messi’s passing game and Mbappé’s pace, there will be only one logical reaction for most opponents: retreat! Most defensive chains will therefore be lower in order to make the space behind you as small as possible – you want to get involved in a running duel with Mbappé as rarely as possible. If the opponent withdraws further, Messi will move further and further into the center and usurp the game.

Nobody in world football knows how to crack deep and organized defenses – be it through dribbling, double passes or long-range shots.

Messi gets support from a player who can only do that a little worse: Neymar. The Brazilian also shows himself in the center again and again against deep opponents and acts as a knot loosener. If the two South Americans now play close together, it will be incredibly difficult for the opponent to put the ball carrier under pressure with as many players as would be necessary.

After all, you don’t want to give the other offensive artist a single meter too much space. For Paris it is important in these phases to offer enough breadth and depth to keep the opponent busy.

Pressing the crux of the matter: How does Paris want to defend?

It is clear that PSG will always be somehow dangerous with this offensive trio. In order to achieve the really big goals, however, you also need a plan for the defensive. Specifically: How should a pressing with the three top stars look like. Neither Messi nor Neymar are committed starters, but like to take breaks when opposing ball possession. Many top stars do it this way – but only one per team.

If all three strikers pause against the ball in 4-3-3, it becomes difficult to defend with seven field players even against weaker teams.

For PSG there are actually only two options: They run very high, really push man against man up to the opponent’s penalty area and force the opponent to long balls. Or they let themselves fall deeper, pull Messi and Neymar inwards and stand waiting in the 4-3-2-1, the so-called “Christmas tree”. In the first variant, the offensive players would have shorter, but very intensive paths.

The big advantage: PSG will have more possession due to the higher pressure and will be able to better play out their own strengths. With the more passive variant, at least two of the three strikers would really have to come into order, which can be associated with long distances. Accordingly, the ways on the offensive after winning the ball are also long.

Eurosport-Check:

Messi, Neymar and Mbappé is an absolute dream storm – and not just on paper. If the full-backs offer enough deep runs on the wings, Messi and Neymar can move into their parade positions in the half-spaces and take the game from there. If Pochettino also finds a suitable solution for working against the ball, PSG will be a hot candidate for triumph in the premier class.