More than ever, this qualification bears the mark of the “MNM”. Directly involved in the seven Parisian goals of the evening during the victory at Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday October 25 (7-2), the three strong men of Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, offered a new performance of gala in C1. The Parisian attacking trio continues to attract all eyes, and puts doubts into perspective at other levels in the game and the workforce.
Photos of the victory against Maccabi Haifa |
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_inside) October 25, 2022
Faced with Maccabi Haifa, the figures speak for themselves, and almost make you dizzy. Two goals, two assists and a crossbar for Lionel Messi, two goals and two assists for Kylian Mbappé, a goal and an own-team goal for Neymar… In a match where PSG equaled their record for goals scored at European level, the three men in front were obviously at the party. “Today it went very well, I’m super happy, the three scored, the three had a great game, they were decisive”soberly commented Marquinhos at the microphone of Canal + after the final whistle. “When they’re like that, it’s difficult for the other team.”
Omnipresent on the Parisian offensives, they also distinguished themselves by their technical palette. From Messi’s subtle exterior to open the scoring to Neymar’s neckerchief on the action of Mbappé’s first goal, passing through the exchange of millimeter passes in the box, the Argentinian, the Frenchman and the Brazilian had fun on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. Enough to make the first the only player in the five major championships with more than ten goals and ten assists to his name, while the second takes the lead in the C1 scorer rankings. “Our three strikers have been fantastic, with a great connection between them […] It plays fast, it plays fair, it plays for each other, and it’s very nice to see.”welcomed Christophe Galtier, the Parisian coach, at a press conference.
10 – Lionel Messi is the only player to have scored at least 10 goals and delivered at least 10 assists in all competitions this season among those playing in the 5 major European leagues (10 of each). Double-double. #PSGMAC pic.twitter.com/D1CGn8uyx6
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 25, 2022
A performance in the image of the start of the Parisian season on the European scene. Since its first outing against Juventus in early September, PSG has been carried by the “MNM”. Until the seventh and last goal of the evening, scored by Carlos Soler, the three attackers had scored all the goals for the capital club. The observation also extends to the championship, where we must not look further than the last match, against Ajaccio, last Friday, to see Messi, Neymar and Mbappé all three scorers (3-0).
The sequins of the “MNM” even obscure the Parisian largesse in the rest of the game. Against the Israelis, the midfielder appeared in difficulty, in the absence of Marco Verratti, suspended. Yet little in demand, the defense has never shone with its authority against the modest Israelis of Maccabi. And the last rampart Gianluigi Donnarumma did not reassure either, faulty on the first goal, on one of his rare outings of the evening.
“I’m not annoyed but we lacked requirements at the start of the second period”also regretted Christophe Galtier after the meeting, his face closed, almost his first comment on the match. “As much as we were taken on a free kick on the first goal, in the second half we lacked the requirement and rigor to avoid relaunching this team. [le Maccabi Haïfa]and we relaunched it.” On the lawn Tuesday evening, his eleven sometimes relaxed, and was unable to make a copy without a goal conceded, as since the start of the European campaign.
For the moment, the Olympic form of the attacking trio is enough to sweep away the evils. But with a long anticipated truce marked by a World Cup in an unprecedented context, and questions to come about the state of form on the return of Qatar, conditions could quickly change for PSG. Might as well make the most of the connection of its “MNM”, as long as it is at this level.