Cyrille de la Morinerie, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Ibrahim Ezzat / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
Paris Saint-Germain is playing for its survival in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The Parisians meet the English from Newcastle at the Parc des Princes, a month and a half after the debacle in a boiling St-James Park. Without Marquinhos or Zaire-Emery, PSG still maintains its chances of winning according to Bernard Lama, historic goalkeeper of the club.
After the debacle in the first leg at St-James Park in Newcastle (4-1), Paris Saint-Germain wants to take their revenge this Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9 p.m.). Second in its Champions League group, Paris has every interest in winning to avoid compromising its chances of qualifying for the round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé’s teammates have two defeats in this group stage, against Newcastle and Milan, a first since the arrival of the Qataris. This meeting against the English is therefore a question of honor, but also of survival in the most prestigious of European competitions, because in the event of defeat, PSG would no longer be master of its destiny despite a final match planned in the boiling Dortmund stadium in 15 days.
“I don’t see why they couldn’t win,” said Bernard Lama
The Parisians will play without their usual captain, Marquinhos, and without their nugget Warren Zaire-Emery, injured with the France team against Gibraltar. This does not prevent the club’s former goalkeeper, Bernard Lama, from being confident. “A PSG at its maximum is still better than Newcastle today. There is more talent at Paris Saint-Germain, more and more mastery. Players are freeing up, so I don’t see why they couldn’t win this match”, estimates the ex-international at the microphone of Europe 1.
Especially since the Parisians continue to shine in Ligue 1: seven wins and a draw in eight matches, 24 goals scored, five conceded. One of the rivals for the title in the French championship, AS Monaco, was swept aside 5-2 last Friday. Kylian Mbappé is the “Mr. one goal per match”, with 16 goals in 16 matches since the start of the season. Ousmane Dembélé, still untenable with the ball, finally scored with Paris. Be careful all the same for the Parisians, Newcastle offered themselves a prestigious victory against Chelsea last weekend.