When the intro to “Who Said I Would” by Phil Collins resonates in a month at the Parc des Princes just before the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Real Madrid, we hope that the clamor that follows will be of another intensity than that of this Saturday evening. This will mean that the public will be able to return to the stadiums and that the gauge limiting the number of Parisian supporters present during this match against Brest to 5,000 people will no longer be relevant.
More generally, for PSG, it is to be hoped that the gauge is not the only thing that evolves between now and the duel against the Spanish club. Starting with the presence of Lionel Messi and Neymar on the pitch and no longer sitting in the stands, as luxury spectators. Their creativity is lacking. Fortunately for Paris, as for a very (too?) long time, Kylian Mbappé takes care of everything. With Marco Verratti as an always reliable lieutenant. These two, Paris can not do without. The striker’s new low strike to allow Paris to find the opening will not remain as the most beautiful of his 151 achievements in the Parisian jersey but it has relieved his people damn much (1-0, 33rd).
The alternation set up at the level of goalkeepers since the start of the season by the Parisian staff has made it possible not to suffer from the late withdrawal of Keylor Navas, affected in turn by the Covid. Gianluigi Donnarumma has indeed had no trouble slipping into the skin of a holder or, above all, into that of the savior that Navas has so often endorsed. His relaxation and parade against Cardona, alone against him, prevented Paris from conceding once again the opener (9th).
Premiere of Ramos at the Park
In the “rise in power” operation started at the start of the year, Paris had time to doubt but the merit of being enterprising. A sign ? Wijnaldum’s half-time until his ankle injury after a Brest tackle (45th): his best since his arrival. Another sign of this desire to move forward? Kehrer’s goal after remarkable work on the left side by Nuno Mendes (2-0, 53rd). The German defender, already a scorer in Lyon, finds himself with more goals on the counter in Ligue 1 than Messi.
But the real event of the evening occurred when Sergio Ramos finally showed up on the sidelines to replace Angel Di Maria and thus experience, on January 15, his first appearance of the season at the Parc des Princes, at the 72nd minute. The public was not mistaken and gave him a standing ovation. At this moment. Then… with each simple touch of the ball as if to make up for lost time. Paris then went into a three-man defense which we are likely to talk about again in the weeks to come.
Instead of flying away for an internship in Qatar at the end of the meeting, the Parisians returned home warm. They will calmly prepare for the reception of Reims on Sunday 23rd. But before that, they will no doubt take a look at Real Madrid’s performance in the Spanish Super Cup final this Sunday against Athletic Bilbao. February 15 is still a long way off.
MATCH SHEET
Half time: 1-0
Spectators: 5 000
Referee: M. Lesage
Buts. PSG : Mbappé (32e), Sweeper (53e)
Warnings. Paris SG: Herrera (24th), Mbappé (35th), Kimpembe (55th), Verratti (58th), Pereira (65th). Brest: Magnetti (34th), Agoume (45th + 1), Chardonnet (61st)
Paris SG: Donnarumma – Kehrer, Marquinhos (cap.), Kimpembe, Mendes – Wijnaldum (Pereira 46), Herrera (Paredes 80e), Verratti (Michut 90e + 1) – Di María (S. Ramos 72nd), Icardi (Simons 80th), Mbappé . Entr. : Mauricio Pochettino
Brest : Bizot – Pierre-Gabriel, Chardonnet (cap.), Herelle (Brassier 80th), Duverne – Faivre (Badji 90th + 1), Agoumé (Mbock 59th), Honorat, Magnetti (Lasne 59th) – Cardona (Mounié 59th), Le Douaron . Entr. : Michel Der Zakarian.
