Already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain ended its group stage with a home victory against Bruges on Wednesday, December 7 (4-1). Very serious, Mauricio Pochettino’s players killed the suspense quickly in the first period and showed a conquering face not yet displayed in the competition this season until then. With less than two months of the round of 16, the Parisians have shown the best.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: 7/10
Preferred to Keylor Navas, the Italian still made a very good copy. If he conceded a goal in the second period, which he was not far from removing from the frame with the tip of the glove, he was flawless. Three hot alerts were dismissed by the former Rossonero, against Sandra (24th), then against Rits (36th) and finally on the big strike from Vanaken (54th).
Achraf Hakimi: 4.5 / 10
The flamboyant side from the start of the season has still not returned. We expect more from the Moroccan international, especially in this kind of match with low adversity and when there are spaces to take. No successful center or created opportunity, only four duels disputed (one won) and two balls won (against eight lost). He loses an inexplicable ball while attempting a breakthrough in his own camp which results in the big strike from Vanaken (54th).
Marquinhos: 6/10
It’s the same dilemma every time when it comes to writing it down. He shows himself so little badly that he never tilts on the side of the flops. The Brazilian captain gave another serious performance, by doing the work behind the scenes, always with this science of reading the trajectories.
Abdou Diallo: 7/10
With the absence of Presnel Kimpembe, he was Mauricio Pochettino’s choice at the start of the match. Preferred to Thilo Kehrer, the Senegalese communicated great serenity by showing himself very solid in the heart of the Parisian defense. Signs of his activity, he made eight clearances (at least twice any of his teammates) and set himself the game’s interception record (four).
Nuno Mendes: 5/10
Generally timid in the Champions League, the 19-year-old defender may have turned a corner against Brugge by participating in the creation of a goal for the first time in his new colors. It was his center pushed back by Mignolet that allowed Mbappé to open the scoring, a few seconds after having combined with him. On the other hand, he has not yet erased his defensive absences and other approximations to the recovery. The Portuguese came out on injury, replaced by Thilo Kehrer at the start of the second period (50th), whose entry on the left side is to be forgotten.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5/10
The adaptation continues for the Dutch. Three days after snatching the equalizer against Lens, he volunteered in a starting role. His offensive projections and defensive retreats have done his team good. But his lack of lucidity somewhat spoiled his performance. Several quick attacks were aborted, playing back because he had not taken the information. He himself missed a face-to-face, delaying shooting as two defenders came back on him (28th).
Marco Verratti: 5.5 / 10
No masterclass for the Italian this time. A great activity (seven balls recovered), creative gestures, a crucial role in the heart of the game, but its technical quality was sometimes not enough for PSG to leave its camp. It must be said that his midfielder cronies did not always make his task easier. Replaced by Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe (83rd).
Idrissa Gueye: 4.5 / 10
Nice paradox that is the performance of the Senegalese. His pressing activity is inversely proportional to his nonchalance on the ball. If he sometimes took himself for a number 10 in his choice of passes (with some success), his loss of the ball in the central circle is at the origin of the only goal of Bruges and therefore of the only black spot of the Parisian evening. It is anything but a coincidence that he is the first player released by Pochettino, three minutes after his ball. Ander Herrera has recovered his role (71st).
Angel Di Maria: 6/10
If he did not replace Neymar in the creation of the Parisian game, “El Fideo” added a new very aesthetic assist to his collection. With a ball almost stung in the back of the opposing defense, it was he who offered Mbappé his second goal in the 7th minute. But he clearly evolved in the shadow of Messi and Mbappé on the attack front, while sharing his team’s record for lost balls with Verratti (13 for 69 balls touched). Replaced by his compatriot Leandro paredes (71st).
Lionel Messi: 7/10
George Weah, Neymar then Lionel Messi. The Argentinian joined the closed club of Parisian scorers in each of their first three C1 matches at the Parc des Princes. He killed the suspense of a curled left from outside the area and put a layer in the second period, obtaining and transforming the penalty of 4-1, the last note of a successful evening for Paris. He nevertheless lost a few balls in the heart of the game and not always made the right choice in fast attack.
Kylian Mbappé: 8.5 / 10
One minute of play was enough for him to find the net and six to smack a double which greatly facilitated the evening for his team. The more the months go by, the more its influence grows. By adding his decisive pass for Messi on the 3-0 (a sequence of small bridge-reversal of the superb left foot), he is now directly involved in 49% of the goals of PSG (23/47). He was by far the best Parisian of the evening. Replaced by Mauro icardi (83rd).
Mauricio Pochettino: 6.5 / 10
More and more criticized for the game proposed by his team, the Argentinian took seriously this game without stakes against Brugge and he did well. Thanks to this easy victory (only the second of the season after Clermont), coupled with an interesting collective performance, the PSG coach ends the group stage on a good note. The tenure of Diallo paid off and he was able to rest Kylian Mbappé by sparing him the last ten minutes of play.