45th minute of play passed. Whistle in mouth, the controversial Marco Guida, evening official, sends the 22 players back to the locker room while Gianluigi Donnarumma’s crossbar is still shaking, just a few seconds after a heavy strike from Mikel Merino. The last event of a first act as disappointing as it was distressing for Luis Enrique’s troops, giving rise to a certain feeling of amazement in the bays of the Parc des Princes. Can this PSG hope for more in the competition given the face displayed during the first period? Will the Basques create a sensation on this evening dedicated to love? How can the reigning French champions reverse the trend given the service offered so far? Questions abound at break time. Some observers pass their nerves by filling themselves with nicotine, others try to analyze, in detail, the impressive pressing produced by the Basque team while our Spanish colleagues display a smile that says a lot… One thing is sure, nothing goes as planned.
The Danilo-Marquinhos duo shone!
Big favorite on paper, PSG staggers, procrastinates, scares itself and thanks the lack of Basque realism. Amorphous collectively and taken by the intensity of the Txuri-urdinak, the reigning French champion must also deal with certain individual failures. From Lucas Beraldo, preferred to Lucas Hernandez to everyone’s surprise, via Achraf Hakimi, guilty of a technical waste unworthy of such a meeting at the top, via Fabian Ruiz, far too neutral in the midfield, Luis Enrique’s choices sound, in turn, like failed bets. Yes, but now, 45 minutes later, the Park is exulting, the songs are resonating and the capital club – buoyed by two achievements by Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola – has taken a very good option in qualifying for the quarter-finals. Champions League final. A happy ending that is justifiable in many ways. First of all, the defensive solidity displayed by the Parisian central hinge throughout the evening. Often criticized in the European evenings of the Rouge et Bleu, Marquinhos – well helped by the always reliable Danilo Pereira (7 duels won out of 8 contested) – thus demonstrated commendable authority.
Imperial in the air, rigorous in his placement and never overtaken, the 29-year-old Brazilian (6 duels won out of 8 played, 8 balls recovered) largely held his place, thus reassuring his team during the many weak times. Very discreet, often clumsy, during the first act, the PSG offensive line made up of the Barcola-Mbappé-Dembélé trio cannot also be forgotten when taking stock of this first leg. Finally, if the Ile-de-France full-backs (Beraldo, Hakimi) have, for their part, missed this poster, the midfielder of the current leader of Ligue 1 symbolizes, in itself, the tactical adjustment made by Luis Enrique at the break. Criticized for his choice to start Lucas Beraldo in the left lane of the Parisian defense, the former La Roja coach, on the other hand, had the foresight to adjust his plans in the midfield. And for good reason. If the Spanish technician – banking on the size (1.89 m) and technical quality of his protégé – had first opted for Fabian Ruiz as sentinel, to the detriment of Manuel Ugarte, the first act sent him back to his beloved studies. Obviously unconvinced by the performance of the former Neapolitan – contenting himself with neutral discounts – against the pressing of Real Sociedad, Luis Enrique then decided to install Vitinha in this role of number 6.
A timely tactical adjustment in midfield…
A position that the Portuguese had already experienced on December 13 against Borussia Dortmund (1-1) and a choice which would prove profitable upon returning from the locker room. “There are two very different halves. A first where Real Sociedad was much better, they took the ball from us, we didn’t manage to do our pressing. We had a lot of trouble, very difficult. But football is fickle. We were then able to change things. The match has changed. We pressed higher, we held the ball more, we started from behind better. This goal arrived, this 1-0. We gained confidence and won”, also recognizing the Ile-de-France architect at a press conference. More mobile, the ex-Porto player, elected man of the match by the FM editorial team, has indeed made the game of the Rouge et Bleu more fluid. More technically comfortable, the native of Vila das Aves then left the pressing zones, while allowing Ruiz to project himself offensively. Symbol of this decisive adjustment? The second Parisian goal where the 27-year-old Spanish midfielder, with 9 balls recovered in total and very valuable in his defensive involvement, serves as a relay for Bradley Barcola, author of a disconcerting finish at the age of 21.
Finally, beyond the tactical considerations and individual performances highlighted previously, the Parisian revolt can also be explained by a state of mind found upon returning from the locker room. Stung by the black anger of Luis Enrique at the break, Warren Zaire-Emery’s teammates then showed positive aggressiveness in this confrontation, while benefiting from the decline in power of the Basques, who ultimately did not score any shooting on their nine attempts in the evening. “In the first half, we had difficulty getting out of the pressing. We could have added more personality. It’s part of this team’s learning. We didn’t pay much for it. Second, we come back with more conviction. We managed to score at key moments. The clean sheet is important. We are looking for this kind of performance in the Champions League.admitted Kylian Mbappé at the microphone of Canal +. Central hinge there, decisive offensive trio, tactical adjustment in the midfield… So many elements justifying, ultimately, the very good option taken by the Parisians regarding qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League…
