At the Parc des Princes
Time for regrets. A taste of unfinished business. Logically announced as favorites for their double confrontation against Dortmund, in the semi-final of the Champions League, PSG ultimately remains on the verge of the final. Beaten in the first leg (1-0), in Germany, Luis Enrique’s players were never able to ignite a Parc des Princes which was just asking for it on Tuesday, on the return leg. And BVB, fifth in the Bundesliga standings, won 1-0 on a goal from Mats Hummels. Certainly, Paris-SG still touched wood four times. A real curse.
But the German qualification is deserved. As in 2013, Borussia returns to the final. As in 2013, it’s at Wembley. At the time, the Ruhr club lost to Bayern Munich. Again? The Bavarians will try to punch their ticket to London on Wednesday, against Real Madrid. What a disappointment for Parisians who had been announced on the royal road for the final and who will watch all this from their sofa, wondering why and how they wasted such a great opportunity to return to the final, like in 2020. Inexplicable.
Great evening atmosphere at the Park, full as an egg, boiling, electric. Live up to the event. At least at first… What about on the ground? Paris started strong in counter-pressing and intensity, multiplying the crosses (15 in the first period) due to the presence of Ramos in the 11th. They still had to find the Portuguese… It was on a nice pivot sequence at the entrance to the area that he put himself most forward (13th), beyond his efforts without the ball. But Kobel was having a quiet evening. Dominant Paris, but academic Paris, without madness.
In fact, it was Donnarumma who had to pull out all the stops on a tumble from Adeyemi (35th), he who had already been very happy to see Ryerson’s shot find the small net (19th). Mbappe? Discreet, like this very soft shot at the start of the match (7th). Often facing two or three players. The first act ended after a blocked strike from Ruiz (45th), without a goal and with the feeling that PSG could have played 10 hours without scoring (0-0 MT).
The Parc des Princes a little numbed, like the performance of the Parisian team. The same players at the start, but more momentum in the Parisian offensives. Trailing at the far post, Zaire-Emery had the taste of a goal in his mouth, but his attempt pierced the post (47th). The 11th amount for PSG in C1 this season… There have already been two on the first leg, in Germany. Taking advantage of the naivety of young Beraldo, Hummels found the fault with his header from a corner (0-1, 50th). Showered Parisians. They had only themselves to blame. Imperial in the defensive aspects, as often since the start of the C1 campaign, as in the first leg at Signal Iduna Park and again on Tuesday, the 35-year-old German veteran put the capital club on the ropes, on the edge of the abyss .
This time, there’s nothing left to lose. This time, PSG went there, accelerated, pushed, provoked. On one of his last balls, Ramos failed to find the target (60th). Mendes found… the post (61st), PSG’s 12th in C1. It wasn’t over. Luis Enrique released Ramos and Ruiz for Barcola and Asensio (63rd). German hero, Hummels dried Dembélé a handful of centimeters from the surface (65th). Barcola was trying to bring his spark, but like this shot far from the target of Mbappé (73rd), there was always a little something missing. Shy, this PSG. Hummels thought he would kill the suspense (77th) but the referee quickly signaled an offside position.
Like this handful of blocked shots in the area (80th), Paris couldn’t do it. Finally a good deep ball for Mbappé, thwarted by Kobel (81st). Frustration was mounting, like Hakimi, warned over a gesture of humor (84th). And this bad luck, again: the bar for Mbappé (86th), the bar for Vitinha (88th). 13th and 14th uprights! When it doesn’t… At this level, maraboutage is a credible option to explain such bad luck. Long technically unemployed, Kobel was blessed. Dortmund in the final. Paris at the quay.
