UCL Recap: PSG frustrated by PSV
Match Reports
For their third UCL game under the lights this season, Les Parisiens were held by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
Paris Saint-Germain were held by Dutch side PSV at the Parc des Princes in their third Champions League outing on Tuesday evening, ahead of a huge Classique clash against Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 next weekend. Luis Enrique made some big choices for Les Parisiens' starting XI, with Fabian Ruiz coming in to replace an in-form Vitinha in midfield, with Lee-Kang In positioned in the false nine spot ahead of Randal Kolo Muani.
Right out the gate in the early stages, Les Parisiens looked dangerous in the PSV half, with Achraf Hakaimi's spontaneous flick in the box almost creating a chance for the Moroccan to open the scoring in the first minute. Bradley Barcola got the next major chance for PSG, when he made a typical driving run from the left where he was found by Kang-In Lee, but his strike fizzed just wide of the post. The South Korean was next up, this time set up on the edge of the box by Barcola, and his strike was saved well by PSV keeper Walter Benitez.
The first-half pressure just kept building: this time Nuno Mendes whipped a wicked ball into the box from the left and Ousmane Dembélé thrashed his strike against the crossbar. The Frenchman got another chance in the box following a Joao Neves header, but it was nowhere near hitting the target as he blasted over the bar.
In a flash, PSG fell behind to the Dutch side. It was a hammer blow for the Rouge et Bleu, as Ousmane Dembélé gave the ball away to Noa Lang and the Dutchman drove inside to the edge of the box and let-off a decisive strike past Giunluigi Donnarumma (34').
With no way found through by the end of the first half, Les Parisiens went into the break a goal down and with a lot of work to do in the second period at the Parc des Princes. Enrique's side pushed, playing the ball around the pitch with their possession-based style, and it would finally pay off. The home side would have to wait until midway through the half for Achraf Hakimi to let off a blistering long-range strike which Benitez fumbled through his legs (55'). Les Parisiens could breathe a sigh of relief at the equaliser, but the job wasn't done yet.
Achraf Hakimi sparkles, but PSG miss killer instinct
Hakimi threatened again down the right side, and his low cross flashed in front of goal. Enrique made his first roll of the dice as Vitinha came on to replace Ruiz. There was a huge scare as De Jong picked up the ball and beared down on goal almost one on one with Donnarumma - yet an imperious Marquinhos intervened at the last second to surely stop the Dutch side from grabbing another goal via Lang. Hakimi was close to grabbing a second goal after weaving inside out of the PSV defence and striking just wide of the post.
Marco Asensio went down in the box after some contact was made by defender Boscagli, but after an extended review the decision to award the penalty was overturned. A barrage of PSG corners ensued, and Marquinhos' header would be saved miraculously by Benitez off the line right at the very death.
After three matches in the Champions League, PSG have four points out of possible nine so far, with their qualification still hanging in the balance. They now look onwards to a huge classique clash against Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille next weekend…
MATCH REACTIONS
Achraf Hakimi - "It was a little bit of a strange match. We did everything we could to win, but we had a lot of chances and we didn't take them: that's why we didn't win the game. My teammates trust me offensively, and I try to help them offensively."
Marquinhos - "I think that the most important thing is that. There were certain things that were missing during the match against Arsenal that we've fixed, but we just missed that finishing touch. We have some big players who can make a difference, but we just lacked a bit of calmness in front of goal tonight."
THE STat - Forty
Luis Enrique has won only 40% of his Champions League matches with PSG (6/15 - 3 draws, 6 defeats), the lowest ratio for a coach of the club during the QSI era.
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