“It has enormous defensive potential, with its speed, its athletic capacities. But what he was able to do with Salah in the first leg, he must be able to do it all the time. Faced with Elliott, you cannot have this forgetfulness. His problem, he is there, in concentration. Last Wednesday, he gave me the impression of being dominant and to say to himself: 'There is Salah, I must be there' and suddenly, he disconnected. And at the high level, for a defender, a fortiori a side, a hyper exposed position, which is confronted with confusing wingers, you cannot afford to flutter like that “. Here is what Bixente Lizarazu declared about Nuno Mendes, a few hours after the first round of the first leg of the Champions League won (1-0) by Liverpool.
Impressive throughout the meeting, the native of Lisbon, guilty of having dropped the marking on the sole goal of this shock, had, in fact, attracted the wrath of certain observers. The Revanchard Spirit and like a champion, the left -hander of 1m83 was therefore logically at heart to respond to his detractors on Tuesday evening on the lawn of Anfield. And what to say … credited with a 7 by the FM editorial staff, the former Sporting player simply delivered a new Masterclass, this time without any false note. Confronted with a Mohamed Salah much more active than last week, the number 25 Parisian ultimately never trembled and gradually pushed the Egyptian to reset to try to make the difference. Author of two thigh rescues in the first period, Nuno Mendes especially allowed his family to stay alive in this double confrontation.
Nuno Mendes impresses, Pacho and Donnarumma delight!
Physically impressive, vigilant from the first to the last minute and authoritarian in each of his interventions, the one who sees his contract now running until June 2029 simply flew over this very important shock. Result ? Over the 120 minutes of play disputed, the Portuguese won 11 of its 16 duels, recovered 8 balloons and intercepted the leather 4 times. Statistics confirming the visual impression left by the Portuguese international with 33 selections. More than its indisputable impact, Nuno Mendes especially took, in its wake, all Parisian defense, with the exception of Achraf Hakimi. Already disappointing to go, the 26 -year -old Moroccan has once again encountered difficulties in his right lane.
If he has never cracked (10 recovered balloons, 42% of duels won), the number 2 Parisien, in reverse, showed very technically crumbly (20 lost balloons and many raises/approximate passes). A slight downside easily compensated by the heroic performance of Gianluigi Donnarumma and the precious yield of the central hinge. Faced with the many red waves and in an incandescent atmosphere, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho have, in fact, showed any constant solidity. Praised since his arrival in the French capital, the 23 -year -old Equatorian (5 recovered balloons, 1 interception) has also completed his work with some saving returns. A global solidity allowing the champions of France in title finally to keep their invited cage for the 14th time of the season but above all to celebrate a new qualification for the quarter -finals of the most prestigious of European competitions.
