Forgetting the first hitch of PSG’s European season, with a home defeat against Bayern Munich (2-1), that was the mission of Luis Enrique’s men this Wednesday evening with the reception of Tottenham. Two teams with opposite dynamics, PSG seeming to gain momentum (3-0 victory against Le Havre) while Spurs suffered a severe defeat against Arsenal (4-1) last weekend. With its ideal midfielder (Vitinha-Neves-Ruiz) and Ndjantou at the forefront, PSG was nevertheless well and truly shaken up at the start of the match, caught by the aggressiveness of its English opponent in the duels, but protected by technical waste in the last gesture. There wasn’t much to get their teeth into offensively, apart from a powerful but off-target strike from Fabian Ruiz (8th), then a similar one from Kvaratskhelia (18th). The attacking trio, played by Kvara, Barcola and Ndjantou, struggled to distinguish themselves. Zaire-Emery, still very active this evening, took advantage of a caviar from Vitinha to infiltrate but could not finish (20th). And then… that was all, and so little. Without ideas, without rhythm, without technical precision, the Parisian club did not do enough to destabilize the low and compact block of Tottenham.
And as is often the case in these cases, the sanction is never far away. And it was going to be inflicted by, among others, Randal Kolo Muani, who intelligently headed a cross from Gray to Richarlison, who only had to finish (0-1, 35th). A cold shower, which barely woke the Parisians. Fortunately, Vitinha was going to shake everyone out of torpor with a missile sent from outside the area, after a two-way corner (1-1, 45th). Enough to save PSG’s first period at the last minute. But the Parisian performance hardly improved at the start of the second period, and Tottenham regained the advantage.
Hat-trick from Vitinha, double from Kolo Muani
On a corner taken by Pedro Porro, it was Richarlison who put it back this time, Chevalier was slow to come out on Gray, Pacho saved on his line but Kolo Muani was there to finish (1-2, 50th). The Park has often expected goals from the French international, and RKM will add to the long list of ex-PSG players who are coming for revenge. Once again on the ropes, the Parisian club once again relied on its talisman Vitinha, who this time curled from the left at the entrance to the area (2-2, 53rd). And finally we found a team hungry for pressure, like Lucas Hernandez who had replaced Nuno Mendes at the break, who came to steal the leather from Sarr. Neves extended with a heel towards Fabian Ruiz who adjusted Vicario with his left foot (3-2, 59th).
Paris took the lead, and was even going to fly away, from a corner, with a bit of luck, Pacho sending, with his right foot, a ball which trailed into the back of the net (4-2, 65th). Folded? Well no, since Vitinha missed a restart, and it was the unsinkable Randal Kolo Muani who took the opportunity to review the defense and turn on Chevalier (4-3, 73rd). The evening took a more bizarre turn with each goal, and it continued with a penalty obtained by Vitinha, who saw another shot being blocked with the arm by Romero. The Portuguese took justice into his own hands to score an improbable hat-trick, from the penalty spot (5-3, 76th). PSG could breathe in the 84th minute, with the exit of Randal Kolo Muani, however replaced by another ex, Xavi Simons. If he did not score, the latter was at the origin of the expulsion of Lucas Hernandez, for a totally useless nudge (90th +3). A small shadow on the board which will not spoil the main observation: with this 4th success in 5 matches, PSG climbs to 2nd place in the Champions League standings.
