Kylian Mbappé, symbol of the Parisian shipwreck against Dortmund

The French striker proved incapable of influencing the Champions League semi-final return against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, after having already missed out in the first leg.

It’s an anecdotal image, but it alone sums up the sad Parisian evening against Borussia Dortmund, Tuesday May 7, in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League. Additional time has just started, and nothing seems to be able to save Paris from the looming elimination. The moment chosen by Kylian Mbappé to finally find space behind the German defense, and go for goal.

Usually imperturbable in these conditions, the PSG striker loses his support and collapses, before even touching the ball. A fall symptomatic of Kylian Mbappé’s poor performance against Borussia Dortmund, in a European evening which was certainly the French international’s last at the Parc des Princes, with the PSG jersey. A meeting missed by the presumed leader of the Parisian squad.

Waste at all levels

Aligned on the left wing, his preferred position, Kylian Mbappé did not weigh on the meeting. When he called on Gregor Kobel in the seventh minute, on a half-volley, we nevertheless believed that the Frenchman had put away his ghost costume from the first match in the locker room, to put on that of a hero. However, we had to wait until the 74th minute to see him try his luck again.

Returning to the center after the exit of Gonçalo Ramos, and not helped by a transparent midfielder who served him very little, Kylian Mbappé went through the meeting like PSG: in a false rhythm. From then on, the one who was involved in 32 goals during his 31 starts at home in the Champions League (21 goals, 11 assists) had to be content with crumbs.

This is how, well served by Achraf Hakimi on the right of the area, he attempted the impossible in the tight corner, and came up against Gregor Kobel (81st). More prominent in a disjointed end to the match, he found the bar, five minutes later, with a funny shot, before claiming a penalty in a contentious duel with Nico Schlotterbeck (92nd). With 12 balls touched in the area, Kylian Mbappé however remains the most prominent Parisian attacker of the evening.

Alone, it therefore symbolizes the impotence of a PSG which paid for its offensive ineffectiveness over both matches. “We created chances, much more than them. We weren’t effective, they were effective, they scored two goals, won both confrontations”, thus railed Marquinhos at the microphone of Canal+.

Apart from his detrimental lack of efficiency, Kylian Mbappé – impeccable defensively – also showed limits in his game, surprisingly bland and stereotypical in this double confrontation. It is no coincidence that the man in this semi-final is called Mats Hummels, the main player opposite the Frenchman in both matches.

An experienced defender that Kylian Mbappé has never found wanting, through a series of bad choices and technical approximations, like his 18 lost balls in the return match. Given his status as leader, we could also have expected more from the Habs in terms of remobilizing the troops. But for his last home outing with PSG in the Champions League, Kylian Mbappé, who was promised a huge party, was so discreet that he was only able to leave the Parisian enclosure through a very small door .