Held in check in Leipzig (2-2) on Wednesday 3 November, the Parisians generally lacked control. Lead by a catastrophic start, they gradually raised their heads, before conceding a draw in the last minutes (90th + 2). Georginio Wijnaldum, double scorer and essential in the midfield, was decisive. Conversely, Presnel Kimpembe and Idrissa Gueye were in difficulty. Here are the notes of the players and the coach of PSG.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: 6/10
Would PSG have taken the water without the intervention of the Italian goalkeeper? By extending his 96 meter on André Silva’s penalty, Donnarumma kept Paris in the match (12th). His lack of communication with Kimpembe, on a bad exit without consequences (20th), was symptomatic of the Parisian problems at the start of the meeting. Little worried afterwards, he reassured with several authoritarian outings (65th, 68th, 73rd). Warned for contesting the second penalty, he started on the right side but could not do anything in front of Szoboszlai (90th + 2).
Achraf Hakimi: 5/10
Late on the first goal, the Moroccan lacked commitment to the action leading to the penalty. First overwhelmed by Angeliño he, like his teammates, gradually picked up the thread of the meeting. Rather clean defensively overall, he wasn’t helped by Di Maria’s random defensive pullback in front of him. He projected himself less offensively than usual.
Marquinhos: 6/10
Feverish from the first action, the Parisian captain sometimes lacked serenity at the start of the match. In his defense, he often had to make up for the mistakes of his hinge friend. Sovereign in the air, he cleverly deflected the leather for Wijnaldum on second base. Subsequently, he assumed his role of leader with several decisive interventions (56th, 64th). Undoubtedly the best element of the Parisian rearguard.
Presnel Kimpembe: 2.5 / 10
Stunned by a nudge in the 6th minute, the French international (25 caps) was late in opening the scoring by Nkunku two minutes later. Often overtaken by the movements of Leipzig, he was warned for an uncontrolled intervention (32nd). Worse, he conceded a penalty after gaining momentum on Christopher Nkunku in the box at the end of the match (89th). Already expelled last year in Leipzig, he almost miraculously escaped the red card. The best, anyway, in the second half. And this, despite sometimes risky reminders.
Nuno Mendes: 4/10
Nine balls lost by the Portuguese left side, often in difficulty against Nordi Mukiele in the first act. Warned in the 61st for an unnecessary foul after a missed touch. He managed the end of the match better and recovered some precious balls. Offensively, he didn’t bring anything.
Danilo Pereira: 4.5 / 10
Like many of his teammates, the Portuguese took the tide early in the game. He conceded a penalty for a stroller on André Silva (10th), receiving, in passing, a yellow card. In the intensity, his duet with Gueye did not make the weight. More at ease in the second half, when the German pressing declined.
Idrissa Gueye: 4/10
But where did the boss size Gueye go in the match against Manchester City? It’s simple, the Senegalese was invisible in Leipzig on Wednesday. Outpaced in almost all of the duels, he recovered only one ball in the first act. A very dangerous loss of ball (51st). Less embarrassed thereafter, he failed to contain the German assaults at the end of the match.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 7/10
The Dutchman has evolved in a higher position than his two middle friends. Not always a holder since his arrival, he is undoubtedly one of the winners of the match. Concerned at the start of the action, Wijnaldum was at the conclusion of a good movement to equalize (22nd). After a complicated start, he projected himself well forward and was invaluable in the midfield. On the next corner, he was quick to resume the deflection of Marquinhos to double the bet (40th). Altruistic, he could have been a decisive passer if Mbappé had converted his offering. Replaced by Ander Herrera (85th), warned for having prevented a quick revival of Gulacsi (90th + 5).
@GWijnaldum #UCL | #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/QWyJO8Gzko
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 3, 2021
Angel Di Maria: 4/10
It was he, with an awkward handover, who launched André Silva on the first German goal (8th). Radiant Friday against Lille (2-1), the Argentinian did not weigh offensively. A volley countered by Orban, a good opening for Mbappé before the break, and that’s about it. His defensive work has been uneven, despite several efforts. Replaced by Julian Draxler (85th)
Neymar: 5.5 / 10
The Brazilian did not really confirm his good second period against Losc. Shaken from the first minutes by Willi Orban, he was still decisive by launching Mbappé on the action of the equalizer. His ball retention did good in the second half. Dull at the end, Neymar then had waste. He defended, sometimes excessively: nervous, he received an avoidable yellow (74th).
Kylian Mbappé: 5/10
Once again, it was on one of his calls that salvation came. Having gone to the limit of offside, the striker served Wijnaldum in the right tempo to equalize. Relatively discreet in the game, he created several chances thanks to his burst of speed (45th + 2, 64th) but sinned at the finish. He lacks lucidity on a caviar from his Dutch teammate (52nd). On arrival, this lack of efficiency is costly. Replaced by Mauro icardi in stoppage time (90th + 2).
Mauricio Pochettino: 4/10
Once again, the collective copy of PSG is muddled. Handicapped by the absences of Verratti and Messi, the Argentine technician was not spoiled for choice. But the overall production remains too low: the PSG was especially dangerous on set pieces and counters. The only real attack placed led to the first goal. Defensively, the balance was often held by a thread and the Gueye-Danilo association did not convince without the coach intervening. All the same, we salute the creative freedom left to Wijnaldum. The changes may have appeared late.