The first step is taken for Paris. PSG won their qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday, October 25 by beating Maccabi Haifa (7-2) at the Parc des Princes. Carried by a phenomenal attacking trio, directly involved in the seven goals of his team, Paris largely dominated his opponent, despite some defensive slumps. They will look to retain their first place for their last group match, Wednesday November 2, against Juventus in Turin.
It’s over at the Parc des Princes, what a show!
Victory and qualification for the Parisians!# | # pic.twitter.com/m8juFMnzQF— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_inside) October 25, 2022
This time, the Parisians did not miss their chance. In front of their audience, they did not make the suspense last and offered a recital to validate their ticket for the round of 16. Flamboyant, but not always reassuring, the men of Christophe Galtier signed a third European victory this season. Their first for over a month, and two draws in a row against Benfica.
As since the start of the European season, the Parisians have been guided by the “MNM”. In great shape, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar scored five of the game’s seven goals, with superb technical gestures. Like mirrors, they answered each other, thus chaining the goals one after the other. They were also invaluable in the construction, the last and the penultimate pass to serve each other (two assists for Mbappé, as much for Messi).
Among the members of the trio, Lionel Messi still managed to stand out on the lawn of the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening. In all the good shots, the Argentinian delivered his people with a superb outside of the foot (19th), scored the fourth Parisian goal (45th), and wreaked havoc in the Israeli defense. Author of two assists for Neymar and Carlos Soler, the Argentinian also touched the crossbar after a magnificent Parisian action. A year after arriving in the capital, the former Barcelona player is back at the top of his game.
https://t.co/wlFTyFeink pic.twitter.com/Y4wgH22IxG
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 25, 2022
With a four-goal lead, Christophe Galtier has chosen to rotate his squad to preserve his strengths. He notably replaced Kylian Mbappé, applauded, just under a quarter of an hour from the final whistle, and launched Presnel Kimpembe for his return after more than a month of absence. It was even substitute Carlos Soler who came to score the seventh and last Parisian goal (84th), the first achievement of a player other than the “MNM” in C1 for the capital club this season.
But the Parisians did not sign a perfect performance from start to finish, and relaxed. They were sometimes shaken by Israelis, authors of a good pressing at the very beginning of the meeting, and who did not abdicate. They were picked off cold after their third goal (38th), before conceding another on returning from the locker room (50th). Behind his fabulous attacking trio, Gianluigi Donnarumma, author of an ill-judged exit on Maccabi’s first goal, and the defense, did not send only reassuring signals.
The essential is all the same acquired, with the manner, for the PSG, which joins Chelsea, Dortmund, Manchester City and Benfica among the qualifiers of the evening. With this offensive festival, they take a small advantage over the Portuguese, winners against Juventus (4-3), at the top of their group. The Parisians will be looking to keep this first place for their last group match, next Wednesday, against Juventus in Turin, already eliminated.