At the opening of the 13th day of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain offered an offensive festival (5-2) against AS Monaco. The opportunity for Luis Enrique’s men to consolidate their first place, make an impression in the title race and build confidence before welcoming Newcastle on Tuesday evening in the Champions League. So yes, everything was not perfect at the Parc des Princes but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s blunder and the few wanderings of this unprecedented defense were finally erased by the offensive power of the capital club. Like never before this season, the reigning French champion shone in front of the opposing goal. Symbol of this efficiency, the 11 shots on target by the Parisians out of the 16 attempts in the evening. A success logically right for the Monegasques, who were nevertheless determined to take the scalp of the Rouge et Bleu.
Danger comes from everywhere!
Far from being overwhelmed collectively, the Principality club has, despite everything, suffered the law of the Ile-de-France pyrotechnicians. If the Camara-Zakaria duo tried everything to delay the deadline, the Asemists finally exploded against the Parisian genius. Aligned at the forefront of Luis Enrique’s hybrid 4-2-4 – sometimes reorganized into 4-3-3 – Gonçalo Ramos and Kylian MbappĂ© were the first two to find the fault. If the Portuguese took advantage of a huge hand fault from Philipp Köhn to launch his partners, the former Monegasque, captain of the evening in the absence of Marquinhos, took advantage of a penalty obtained by Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© to restore the advantage to the his. His 14th goal of the season, celebrated with restraint against his former club but justifying, a little more, the various rewards received before the match (top scorer badge and best player of the month trophy for October). In this recital, what can we say about Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©’s performance.
Hard-hitting, technically sparkling and at the origin of almost the majority of Parisian offensive movements, the former FC Barcelona talent reminded his detractors why he was often considered a special player. At the start of the action on the opening score (18th), the winger passed through Rennes or even Dortmund multiplied the solitary rushes and transmissions in the interval. More than ever an accomplice with Achraf Hakimi, he was finally rewarded for his work by scoring his first goal in Ligue 1. Launched in depth by Fabian Ruiz, worthy successor to Warren Zaire-Emery, the number 10 took the leather perfectly before to shoot the Monegasque goalkeeper with a right shot (70th). Ramos, Mbappé, Dembélé, a trio that holds up more than the shock but the addition was not going to stop there…
Ramos decisive, Mbappé size boss, Dembélé brilliant!
A handyman in this Parisian collective, Vitinha also took part in the party. Served by Mbappé, altruistic, the Portuguese followed up with a masterful strike into the opposite corner from a disillusioned Köhn (72nd). While all observers were drawing the first conclusions about this very efficient offensive animation, Randal Kolo Muani, who came on in place of Ramos for the last quarter of an hour (72nd), also raised doubts in the minds of all. Opportunistic on a cross from Achraf Hakimi and a poor dismissal from Guillermo Maripan, the former Eintracht Frankfurt player concluded a perfect evening for the Rouge et Bleu. Enough to draw a more general conclusion: regardless of the men chosen by Luis Enrique, this PSG seems stainless in the last meters of the opponent. Taking advantage of players with well-above-average technique, the Parisians find spaces and gaps with disconcerting ease.
A very good sign for Luis Enrique’s gang before crossing swords with Newcastle, a decisive meeting for the future of PSG on the European scene. A sparkling performance, moreover, unanimously praised by the main protagonists of this show. “We had a very good match, it was good for the public. Monaco tried to get us, we did what was necessary. I think they pushed us into making mistakes, but we came back quickly, kept attacking and won. It’s nice to score, but the important thing is collective, we expect a lot of support on Tuesday against Newcastle United, because it will be an important match. I didn’t ask myself any questions about my goal, I tried to pull hard, it doesn’t often succeed, but here it went. I am happy”analyzed, in this respect, Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, increasingly close to his very best level in recent weeks, at the microphone of Prime Video. Asked in turn about this princely evening, Gonçalo Ramos did not hide his joy either.
Kolo Muani participates in the party, Luis Enrique appreciates it!
“I am happy and above all very happy for the collective, we are now ready to face Newcastle next Tuesday. The plan was as usual, get the ball, keep it and it worked well.thus judged the Portuguese at the microphone of Free before discussing his long-distance competition with Randal Kolo Muani: “it’s healthy competition, we get along very well”. Very convincing in his pivotal role and not sparing in his efforts – like his numerous defensive withdrawals – the former Benfica player, for whom PSG has officially exercised the purchase option, has whatever he scored valuable points in this ambition to settle permanently in the number 9 position. Relaunched, in the mixed zone, on the offensive festival of PSG, Vitinha also seemed won over, pointing out a few flaws despite everything. “It’s always important to win before a match like the one that awaits us on Tuesday (against Newcastle, in the Champions League). We are ready for this meeting. We are very happy with this victory, to have scored five goals, less than our match, especially in the second half..
And to add: “we didn’t have a perfect match and we need to work on that. It’s hard to say if it was our most intense match of the season and if it was a Champions League level match. I would say this was almost one. On my goal, I received the ball from “Kiki” (Kylian MbappĂ©). I see the cage, I shoot and it goes in. Tactically, we both understand each other. If he is more inside the game, I am more to the side and vice versa. PSG is on a very good dynamic, all our attackers have scored. They are happy, especially Ousmane (DembelĂ©, editor’s note). It makes him feel good to score for himself and the team. I hope this is a good sign. It’s too early to say that we killed the championship.”. Architect of this 5-star attack, the most effective in the championship so far with 34 goals scored, Luis Enrique admitted, for his part, to having appreciated the spectacle on offer.
“When two teams at this level who never calculate, who attack, who offer high pressure play a match like today (Friday), all football lovers enjoy the spectacle. For us coaches, it’s difficult to see the goals conceded. But the most important thing is to see the reaction of my team after the break. It was a match worth watching and what I like most is the result.”launched the 53-year-old Spaniard before sending a message to Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, the great architect of this new victory. “It’s a 100% DembĂ©lĂ© goal. Outside foot control, pigeon wing, oriented control, then shot under the crossbar. It’s very good news for him, it’s also all the good vibes that it creates around him. For me, he’s the most unbalanced player in the world and it’s such a pleasure to have such a player.”. In addition to the former Barcelona player, PSG now has an impressive reservoir in attack. Enough to make any defense in Europe tremble… Newcastle has been warned.
