Paris Saint-Germain won on the Le Havre pitch this Sunday for the 14th day of Ligue 1 (2-0).
Heads to wash, more than doubts to resolve. In the long marathon of Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League matches can leave their mark. The frustrating draw against Newcastle on Tuesday (1-1) was another setback in the construction process initiated by Luis Enrique, but the European infancy of this new look PSG should not overshadow its progress on the national scene. In Ligue 1, the reigning champion remained on 6 consecutive victories with at least 3 goals scored before his trip to Normandy to challenge Le Havre, at lunchtime, this Sunday.
It is therefore with some certainties and increasingly well-oiled circuits that Kylian Mbappé and his gang challenged the HAC. But certainty does not rhyme with complacency. There was no question for the Parisians of taking this match over the head. Because the promoted player, comfortably positioned in the middle of the table, relies on real virtues to exist in the elite this season. And because this schedule is as unusual as it is difficult for organizations. And because the Parisian infirmary remains well stocked.
PSG overcomes obstacles
Still deprived of Marquinhos, Warren Zaire-Emery, Nuno Mendes and Presnel Kimpembe, Luis Enrique approached this meeting with a mixed eleven, cultivating his habit of reshuffling his team from one match to the next. Vitinha was lined up from the start, like Carlos Soler Nordi Mukiele and Bradley Barcola. In the tactical approach, Paris did not want to deviate from its usual principles, but the start of the match completely changed the situation. It even confined itself to a disaster scenario for Paris.
After only a few minutes, Fabian Ruiz, in tears, had to give up his place due to injury. A big problem 10 days before the clash against Dortmund, which PSG will already tackle without Warren Zaire-Emery. In the process, it was Donnarumma who left the pitch after a logical red card for a dangerous foul outside the area (10th). It was therefore numerically inferior that the Parisians spent almost the entire match.
Despite this, the reigning champion found the resources to get back on track. After the exit of Barcola to make way for Tenas in goal, Luis Enrique reorganized his team by banking on the Dembélé-Mbappé tandem in attack. A plan which bore fruit since on an outburst from the former Barcelona player, the Bondy prodigy, upon receiving a back cross, placed himself on his right foot to trigger a marvel of curling shot (0- 1, 23e).
A turning point, certainly, since this goal gave new impetus to the Parisians. In a rapid attack configuration favoring the expression of its arrows, the capital club imposed its law against a promoted player who had taken a blow to the head. Dangerous situations increased for the Parisians, despite the numerical inferiority Mbappé could have doubled the lead but his second goal was refused for a slight offside position (32nd).
Despite some less inspired sequences, the Parisians generally held their ground by offering a serious and diligent copy, managing this advantage with consistency in the second half. An attitude which finally allowed them to make the break at the end of the match with a blocked shot from Vitinha (0-2, 89th). It was necessary, because the valiant Le Havre would certainly have come back to score if they had not come up against a very inspired Arno Tenas for his great debut. Author of multiple saves, the young Spaniard was the great architect of this success behind a solid Danilo. After Nice’s defeat in Nantes, Paris increased its lead at the top of the championship. Mission accomplished.
