The Parisian goalkeeper made seven saves to allow PSG to regain their distance at the top of the championship on Saturday.
Skepticism was gaining ranks. Pointed out after his disappointing performances in Lyon and against Bayern Munich, Gianluigi Donnarumma knew he was expected. Saturday April 8, in Nice, the Italian giant set the record straight, stopping seven strikes over a controlled score. It allowed PSG to relaunch at the top of Ligue 1 thanks to this success (2-0).
In chick yellow on the pitch, Gianluigi Donnarumma seemed untouchable tonight. The kind of golden score that we don’t really know if it is due to talent or unusual luck. “It’s a big victory, we are six points ahead, it’s important. We needed this victory for the lead. I tried to do my best for the team”, confided the doorman at the end of the match at the microphone of Canal +.
Shaken from the start by catchy Nice players, PSG found themselves asphyxiated at the end of the first half. The kind of slump that cost him his last matches despite the weak advantage given to him by the goal of Lionel Messi (27th). Everything rested on the shoulders of Gianluigi Donnarumma, inconsistent this season. PSG have indeed conceded fourteen goals during their ten trips in 2023 in all competitions, after having conceded only five in the first eleven this season. Subdued performances that almost made you regret the loan of Keylor Navas at Nottingham Forrest in the Premier League.
Nice fire
But this Saturday evening, everywhere, all the time, from all angles, the goalkeeper’s extension stemmed the inflections of Nice, who with a leveled shot or a rolled corner, pierced the Parisian defenses. The doorman had to work under the attacks of Grandpa at close range (43rd) and Moffi (45th), diverted in a reflex parade. The Nice fire did not dry up in the second period: a volley from Pépé (52nd) diverted from a reflex parade on the ground, a shot from 18 meters from Ndayishimiye (59th) released after the Italian used all his relaxation, or even a header from Todibo, blocked by a cuff. All failed on the doorman. At least that was needed to allow PSG to win, as Saturday’s match was not a health walk.
The doorman, however, trembled, to within a centimeter. In a mess, Dante took a corner from Pépé – again him – from the left, which bounced off the bar and then the goal line, without completely crossing the line. Of the 21 shots from Nice, the goalkeeper chained a fluke and strong parries. In all, Gianluigi Donnarumma made seven saves against Nice.
Messi also helped offensively with a goal and an assist from a well-targeted corner kick on Sergio Ramos. A head on a situation identical to that diverted, a few minutes earlier, by the Italian goalkeeper of PSG. What to appreciate in mirror its dexterity.