The Parc des Princes vibrated for France's third consecutive victory in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, a success (3-0) against Azerbaijan which consolidates Didier Deschamps' band at the top of their group. An evening generally controlled by the Blues, dominant in the game and in the score, but which offered its share of individual intrigues. Among them, Adrien Rabiot's performance particularly attracted attention. Scorer of the second goal which ensured the break, the midfielder delivered a performance that was paradoxical to say the least, since it was marred by technical difficulties and discretion in the game, but punctuated by a decisive flash which recalled his instinct in the air.
This return to Paris Saint-Germain necessarily had a special flavor for Rabiot. Memories of banners and stormy receptions during PSG – OM last year, recurring tensions between the Rabiot clan and the Parisian supporters, boos heard during his previous appearances in Blue… So many contexts which weigh on a player whose temperament is already scrutinized. This Friday evening, these echoes of the past have not disappeared. The Parisian public, far from being neutral towards the Milanese midfielder, followed his every move with attention, increasing the pressure on a player already under the microscope. In this particular climate, Rabiot's match promised to be delicate.
Scorer under boos… and that’s it
On the field, the performance of the French number 6, criticized every time he touched the ball, was uneven. Associated with Khéphren Thuram in the midfield, the new AC Milan player suffered in duels and in technical play, sometimes leaving spaces exploitable by opposing attackers. From the 21st minute, a nice little bridge by Emin Makhmudov reminded us of his limits in certain individual situations. With 73 balls touched, 0 successful dribbles, 9 ball losses and only 6 ground duels won out of 12, Rabiot never really found his rhythm and was too discreet in the offensive animation. And yet, in this contrasting match, the former Juventus and OM player was able to find his light at the key moment with this impeccable header on a cross from Mbappé to score the second French goal (69th), once again illustrating his aerial efficiency. Five of the seven goals he scored with the Blues were headed, a register where he remains a formidable asset, behind Giroud and Henry in the modern history of the Blues. Despite this positive note, the results of the evening remain mixed. Rabiot showed signs of technical weakness and limited influence on the game, but he did not completely collapse.
Asked about the whistles, Rabiot preferred to retain the majority of applause at the Parc des Princes during his goal: “The work is done even if we could have put more into it. It's good for the team. A second goal is important against a team like that, something can always happen. I'm very happy to score here tonight, for the jersey of course but it makes me happy to be applauded here. I think if we win in Iceland, we will qualify. It was important to do the job tonight. It will be another match there, we will be more serene for the month of November“. His current form at AC Milan since his arrival in September remains a guarantee of quality and consistency. Established and performing well in Serie A, the native of Saint-Maurice has regained the confidence and physical level which he had sometimes lacked in the past. This paradoxical match reminds us that, even when he encounters difficulties, Adrien Rabiot remains capable of providing decisive solutions in key moments. This is enough to reassure, in part, the staff of the Blues.
