DECRYPTION – Beyond the final result, find out what caught the attention of our journalist during PSG-Benfica.
At the Parc des Princes,
FAVORITES
Mbappé, of course
We didn’t have too many doubts about it, but Tuesday night’s match confirmed it: to see him evolve at this level, we can say that the so-called Kylian Mbappé is impervious to pressure. Despite the rumors that punctuated the day on Tuesday, Bondy’s crack arrived at the Parc des Princes as if nothing had happened, having fun with his little comrades in the warm-up. All before delivering a high-level performance against Benfica (1-1), scoring the only Parisian goal from the penalty spot and being the most dangerous, making many differences on the side. A bit of waste too, with two chances that could have ended in the bottom, and a goal disallowed for offside at the end. Note that the Parc des Princes never whistled Mbappé, neither before the match nor when he left (ankle).
The solid PSG…
Feverish in recent weeks, and especially in Lisbon last week (1-1), Paris Saint-Germain did not give much to their Portuguese opponents on Tuesday. Brilliant last Wednesday, Gianluigi Donnarumma didn’t even have to make a save! Admittedly, there is something to complain about in terms of offensive expression (see elsewhere), but PSG has at least been solid defensively in this part of the fourth day of C1, that’s already it.
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… And almost in the round of 16
With a victory, Paris Saint-Germain was, like Real Madrid, qualified for the round of 16. We will still have to wait. But the players of Christophe Galtier, who still share the lead in Group H (the ranking here) with Benfica, are now five points ahead of the other two competitors, Maccabi Haifa and Juventus Turin (8 points against 3). Knowing that there are only two matches left to play, it would take a cataclysm for the champions of France not to be at the rendezvous of the spring games. On the next day, they will host Maccabi Haifa, before traveling to Turin to complete this group stage.
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CLAW STRIKES
The voiceless PSG
The glass half full is solidity. The glass half fast is the poverty of the attack. The Parisians attempted just seven strikes against Benfica, their lowest total for a C1 game at the Parc des Princes since Manchester City, in September 2021.Approaching the last 30, 20 meters, instead of accelerating and being on the percussion, of the game forward, we slowed down the game, which allowed Benfica to get back on their feet and be on a low block. And there things were more difficult“Said Galtier. Paris has only scored two goals in its last three matches, three draws (1-1 in Benfica’s two matches, 0-0 in Reims in the French league).
An unexciting game
It’s an understatement to say that we were bored on Tuesday at the Park. The absence of Leo Messi and fatigue in a “insane calendaruntil the World Cup (November 20-December 18) are extenuating circumstances. “In the first match, there were a lot of goal situations on both sides, the goalkeepers had been very busy. This evening, it was not the case… These are two teams which did not completely deliver themselves. Did Maccabi Haifa’s victory over Juventus (2-0) earlier have an impact? We also made stupid, unusual mistakes. Is it related to fatigue, to the sequence of matches? It’s possible“, analyzed “Galette”.
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Hakimi, small arm
Recruited at a golden price in the summer of 2021, Achraf Hakimi does not give full and complete satisfaction. Not that the Moroccan international was notoriously bad on Tuesday night, but the account is not there when it comes to one of the best specialists in the position. We come out of this match with a disconcerting impression of neutrality. One wonders why the ex-star of Inter cannot let go of the horses at Paris-SG, after an impressive start. Can do better, again and again. And if Galtier were to return to a four-man defense in the weeks and months to come, Hakimi should be careful not to be overtaken by the more solid Nordi Mukiele.
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