The Paris Saint Germain (PSG) has again almost lost, this time at home against Naples, before snatching a point thanks to Angel Di Maria in stoppage time.
The hen of the death of the Champions League keeps its promises: defeated by Liverpool, the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) still almost lost, this time at home against Napoli before snatch a point thanks to Angel Di Maria in stoppage time (2 -2) Wednesday during the third day.
The success of PSG in the league, where he won all his matches with nearly four goals scored on average, had put the quality of the teams paid in his group C in the draw.
He had the misfortune to fall on the unfortunate finalist of the previous edition, Liverpool Jurgen Klopp, who beat him 3-2 at Anfield, and the second in the last Serie A, the Napoli now driven by Carlo Ancelotti.
Of Maria in extremis
On Wednesday, Naples was remarkable for commitment and tactical application. Already a Liverpool scorer in the previous day (1-0) after a draw at Etoile Red Belgrade (0-0), he scored with his two arrows, Lorenzo Insigne (30) and Dries Mertens (77) .
PSG equalized twice: first on a center of Thomas Meunier countered in his goal by the Portuguese defender Mario Rui (60) and then by Angel Di Maria in the additional time (90 + 2), on a superb shot wound.
The Italians, who total 5 points, may regret having conceded these two goals, but still achieve a good operation in France.Provided to confirm it on November 6 at home.
PSG will have to pull out, because Liverpool beat the Red Star of Belgrade (4-0) and took the lead, with six points. The club of the capital, winner of the Serbian club 6-1 in a match tainted by suspicions of fraud on the Red Star side, totals 4.
But the match on Wednesday showed: Thomas Tuchel’s men, who can play quietly in Ligue 1, will have to work to get out of their group of Champions League. Exceeded in the Liverpool engagement, they remained against Napoli as apathetic for half an hour.
The opening score by the turbulent Lorenzo Insigne, a superb stung ball that has mystified world champions Alphonse Areola and Presnel Kimpembe (30th), has indeed left the Parisians sounded.
For any answer, a face to face lost by Kylian Mbappé against goalkeeper David Ospina (38th). Even the tactical change of Thomas Tuchel, who replaced at the break a ghostly rookie, Juan Bernat, by another more prominent, Thilo Kehrer, to go on defense to three, has been slow to make its effect.
Cavani tackles Neymar …
The Parisian attack also regularly seemed to be on the feet. A strong symbol: the match started on Kylian Mbappé’s perfect cross, which Neymar and Edinson Cavani, who had been against the identity of the penalty taker the previous season, both wanted to catapult into the goal.
The Brazilian, tackled by his teammate, stayed on the ground for long minutes ..
It was only in the 50th minute that Neymar managed to shake his teammates, framing a powerful shot at Ospina (50th) before serving a rare caviar at Cavani. But the Uruguayan collapsed in the area in contact with the side Mario Rui (58th) and the referee did not whistle penalty.
The Portuguese side, however, deflected in his own goal a center of the Belgian Thomas Meunier two minutes later (60th), bringing the PSG equal, for the greatest relief of the Parc des Princes. Before the final rush: the goal of Mertens on a shot Fabian Ruiz countered by Marquinhos (77th) and the unparalleled and beautiful equalizer of Angel Di Maria (90 + 2). In extremis!
“A lot of things have changed in our game, in our style, after Liverpool” and the 3-2 defeat, Thomas Tuchel assured the day before. “There is now a lot of intensity, a lot of pressing, more structure”. It was not always easy Wednesday, and it will be much more in the return matches against Naples and Liverpool.
Because it would be difficult to imagine that the two most expensive players in history, Neymar (222 M €) and Kylian Mbappé (180 M €), come out of the Champions League at the end of the group phase … Especially seen the ambitions of the PSG in the European test.
