We wondered where had merciless Paris Saint-Germain gone against opponents within reach in the Champions League. After suffering during his first five outings in the competition this season, it resurfaced on Tuesday, December 7, easily taking over Club Brugge (4-1). Enough to conclude its group stage in the right way less than two months before the round of 16.
It was not until December to see PSG walk for the first time in C1 this season. This is only the second time this season that Paris has gone for a walk correcting its opponent after the victory against Clermont au Parc on September 11 (4-0). Even if the capital club, already qualified and assured of finishing 2nd, played without the slightest stake against an opponent largely within its reach, it will have had the merit of doing things well.
Under incessant rain, Mauricio Pochettino’s players cold picked their opponents. One minute and eleven seconds were enough for Kylian Mbappé to open the scoring, using the post after a cross from Nuno Mendes badly repelled. Kept on the bench for 70 minutes last Saturday against Lens (1-1), the Parisian had ants in his legs.
30 – Kylian Mbappé scored his 30th Champions League goal, becoming the youngest player to reach this milestone in the history of the competition (22 years and 352 days). Fast. #PSGCLU pic.twitter.com/Ws6odfGhQW
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 7, 2021
In all the good shots, he first signed a brace after only six minutes of play, a volley in the race after a subtle ball over Angel Di Maria. And it is again him that we find on the third goal, but this time in a role of decisive passer, after a breakthrough along the line on the left and a sequence of small bridge-overturning left foot.
Lionel Messi reveled in it. Placed in ideal conditions, the fresh sevenfold Golden Ball killed the little suspense that remained thanks to a curl of the left foot from the entrance to the surface, a classic in his repertoire (38th). After this hammer blow, the Parisians started the management mode. After several alerts including a big shot from Hans Vanaken released by Gianluigi Donnarumma (54th), they were finally punished for their nonchalance.
A loss of ball in Idrissa Gueye’s central circle allowed Noa Lang to advance quietly to the surface before shifting Mats Rits for the reduction of the score (68th). But this false note was quickly covered by a new Parisian goal: a penalty obtained and transformed by Leo Messi himself (75th). Last festive note for a Parc des Princes which had started the evening with a few whistles towards Mauricio Pochettino.
3 – Lionel Messi found the net in his first 3 home matches with Paris in the Champions League (3 goals), only George Weah in 1994 and Neymar in 2017 also achieved this performance with PSG in the competition. Confidence. #PSGCLU pic.twitter.com/BqSxXGjHbW
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 7, 2021