5 Takeaways From PSG’s 2-0 Win Over Liverpool in the Champions League

PSG have taken an enormous step in the direction of the Champions League semi-finals.

Fielding the strongest potential facet with out the injured Fabian Ruiz and Bradley Barcola, Luis Enrique performed no surprises in the beginning of this Champions League quarter-final first leg towards Liverpool. Arne Slot, in the meantime, opted for a defensive setup with three center-backs and a really deep line of defense early on. This reveals simply how a lot he fears the reigning European champions. There was far much less house than final season, however that didn’t cease Désiré Doué from opening the scoring in magnificent vogue. His right-footed shot, deflected by Gravenberch, looped over Mamardashvili and nestled underneath the bar (1-0, 11’). Within the second half, Kvaratskhelia pulled off an excellent little bit of talent within the Reds’ field, holding off Gravenberch, evading Mamardashvili, and scoring along with his proper foot (2-0).

All of the beginning gamers carried out nicely on this Champions League quarter-final, apart from Dembélé.

With Safonov in wonderful kind and the protection rock-solid, Liverpool posed little or no menace. The midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha, and Zaïre-Emery dominated the Reds’ midfield. Doué and Kvaratskhelia have been on the scoresheet. The Georgian has additionally turn out to be the primary participant in historical past to attain in 4 consecutive Paris SG matches within the Champions League knockout phases.

Ousmane Dembélé was the one attacking participant to not rating on this first leg of the quarter-final.

He missed three possibilities, two of which have been clear-cut. Within the first half, the Parisians put collectively an excellent transfer, constructing from their very own half. Kvaratskhelia discovered Doué within the middle, who, on the finish of his run, performed the ball out to Dembélé 15 meters out. The Ballon d’Or winner, completely positioned, blasted his left-footed shot large (42’). Within the second half, Kvaratskhelia performed Mendes in on the left of the field. A cut-back cross later, Dembélé discovered himself unmarked 10 meters out, however missed the goal along with his left foot, capturing over the bar (53’). Lastly, arrange by Nuno Mendes, he hit the Liverpool put up (2-0, 87’).

Paris may have gone 5-0 or 6-0 up and killed off any suspense forward of subsequent week’s return leg at Anfield.

The Parisians missed 4 big possibilities by means of Doué, Dembélé, and Nuno Mendes. Within the Champions League and at this stage of the competitors, the European champions ought to have been extra medical in entrance of objective.

Lastly, an excellent environment on the Parc des Princes.

As at all times on European match nights. A powerful tifo because the gamers entered the pitch, an enormous quantity of noise within the first half – I couldn’t hear the journalist subsequent to me. Barely much less noise within the second half, however from the second Kvaratskhelia scored, we couldn’t hear a phrase. What an evening for the European champions and for the entire of the Parc des Princes.