A moribund PSG outclassed in Newcastle

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By: Manu Tournoux

A moribund PSG outclassed in Newcastle

For its second outing in the Champions League, PSG showed a very pale face. The French champion was dominated by Newcastle (1-4).

The Luis Enrique version of PSG did not remain undefeated for very long in the Champions League. From his second outing, he sputtered. Traveling to Newcastle, the Ile-de-France team put up a very sad match and there was nothing illogical in their being punished with a conceded defeat (1-4).

PSG was not there

Paris fell, because Paris did not play the same match as its opponent. In terms of commitment, there was a world of difference between the two teams. The Magpies had the support of their lively crowd at St. James Park but that does not completely explain the visitors’ moribund performance.

If the Ile-de-France residents failed it is also because of their coach Luis Enrique. With his daring 4-2-4 tactics, the Spanish technician precipitated the fall of his team. There was a big imbalance and faced with an Englishwoman who was pressing relentlessly this could only be fatal.

A catastrophic first hour of play for the Parisians

PSG logically lost, but we can still wonder if the outcome of the game would have been the same if there had not been Marquinhos’ restart error in the 17th.e minute and which led to the opening of the opposing score, signed Alexander Isak. Once their backs were against the wall, the Parisian team appeared short of ideas and unable to react.

They had to be shaken twice more for the Ile-de-France residents to finally put themselves back together and show a face in accordance with their status. Dan Burn’s goal just before the break (39e) hurt them a lot, especially since its validity was questionable. It was 2-0 then 3-0 just after the locker room when Sean Longstaff came to complete a brilliant collective move from his team.

Luis Enrique got it all wrong

There were then 40 minutes left to play. Paris could hardly have done worse and that’s when it balked. Unfortunately, this surge only resulted in the reduction of Lucas Hernandez’s score (56e). The other attempts, including two clear ones from Ousmane Dembélé (70e and 76e), gave nothing. Luis Enrique persisted with his plan by keeping four attackers on the field, except that against a team defending with ten this was of no use. And instead of limiting the damage, the Parisians ended up giving in a fourth time, with a goal scored by Fabian Schar after another loss of ball in midfield.

In the end, PSG had to record its second setback of the season after the one conceded against Nice in the championship. Also knowing that he has only won 4 of the 9 official matches played so far, this is starting to take a serious toll. And it is especially difficult to see how this Parisian team will be able to do better than its predecessors on the European scene.

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Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.

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