Paris SG thought they had done the essential on Sunday during the 19th day of Ligue 1 but conceded the draw after conceding two goals in the second half against third Brest (2-2), two weeks before the return of the Champions League. PSG, 44 points, sees its first pursuer Nice return to 6 points. Brest remains third (35 points), one point ahead of Monaco.
Two Parisian flashes before the break
After having purred a good part of the first half, the Parisians thought of knocking out Brest in a few minutes with two lightning strikes. First a magical ladle from Bradley Barcola, coach Luis Enrique’s favorite for several matches, to Marco Asensio who was quick to send his rebound into the small net of another Marco, Bizot (38) . Just before the break, Asensio was talking about him again: his shot pushed back from point blank range offered Randal Kolo Muani the opportunity for a duel won with mischief and “grinta” against Bradley Locko (2-0, 45th).
As in the first leg in Brest (difficult 3-2 victory for the Parisians), the Bretons returned to the fight after the break, scoring quickly on an own goal from Danilo Pereira. The Portuguese deflected a point-blank shot from Mahdi Camara into the cages, after a raid in the area by Romain Del Castillo (55th).
Eric Roy carried out winning coaching since the next goal came from two inbound players. Martin Satriano sent a simple and precise cross for Mathias Pereira Lage who performed a Madjer (heel) by cutting at the near post (80th).
Well-grouped and attentive Brest residents
The Parisians tried to force the decision but came up against a well-grouped and attentive Brestois. And it was the latter who had the last opportunity by obtaining a free kick – unsuccessful – and in passing the exclusion of Barcola, who left the pitch with his head bowed while the Parisian supporters chanted his name. The unprecedented attack aligned by Luis Enrique, with in addition the hybrid Marco Asensio, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani, offered some satisfaction. But it also showed the limits of the coach’s incessant experiments, while Real Sociedad awaits the Parisians in the round of 16 of the Champions League in February and March.
Kylian Mbappé, in particular, missed a lot, in a tight angle on the left (9), on a low cross from Kolo Muani (13), hitting from afar while forgetting Asensio (40), missing the frame from the inside the area (67) or even seeing his shot blocked (87). An evening to forget for the captain of the Blues, who has still not announced his decision on a possible departure this summer.
On the other hand, the beautiful story of Petit Poucet from Brest continues. The Finisterians will have put the Parisian ogre in difficulty both on the outward and return journey. They are now aiming for European qualification… and rather the Champions League than the Europa League.