4 points is the meager total posted by Paris SG after three days of the Champions League. It’s not much, especially for a candidate for the coronation. The narrow victory against Girona was followed by a defeat at Arsenal (0-2) then by a draw against PSV (1-1). This Tuesday, Luis Enrique’s team was indeed able to get the better of the Dutch champion, compromising its chances of finishing in the Top 8 of the regular season.
Dembélé fails
Against the team coached by Peter Bosz, the content was not bad. Far from it. The Ile-de-France residents dominated the debates, and had significantly more opportunities than their opponents of the day. But their mistake was precisely not to convert these very numerous attempts. Realism was clearly lacking among the locals.
Ousmane Dembélé is the one who harvested the most. At the height of Parisian domination, the Parisian number 10 wasted two huge attempts, including one which ended up on the bar. Failures that he regretted, especially when he saw the Dutch take the lead at the mark. At 34e minute, following his own loss of the ball, Noa Lang found himself facing Gianluigi Donnarumma and did not miss the opportunity to open the scoring.
Paris deserved better
at the break, it was a dear price for the Dutch. Paris had two alternatives: to rebuff or to give up. Fortunately he chose the first option. And the equalization logically intervened at 55e minute. It was the work of Achraf Hakimi, with a low shot from outside the area. The Moroccan saved his team from defeat and could even have given them victory, but in the 89the his second shot ended up off target. The Parisian full-back was not the only one to miss the 2-1 ball. A few minutes earlier, the returning Randal Kolo Muani also failed to score with a header.
Paris can blame itself for not having succeeded in forcing the decision, but its opponent of the day can also harbor regrets. Around the hour mark, Guus Til appeared alone against Donnarumma but he was too altruistic in wanting to serve a teammate. Marquinhos then intervened to clear the ball for a corner. After playing the hero in defense, the Brazilian could have been at the forefront, but his recovery just before the bell was diverted at the last minute by Walter Benitez. When it doesn’t want to…
