TOPS
This was Eddie Höwe’s tactical plan and it was perfectly implemented, especially in the first hour of the match. The PSG players simply had difficulty existing, totally asphyxiated by the aggressiveness of Newcastle. At the break, the Magpies were already logically leading (2-0) after stifling PSG throughout the first period through very high and intense pressing. A lot of aggressiveness on the English side against the Parisians, frustrated and uninspired who were unable at all to restart effectively and take the time to properly build their offensive phases. Several defenders were also forced to lose the ball, like Hakimi (15th) and Marquinhos on Almiron’s goal (17th).
As is often the case when Paris Saint-Germain is not doing well, the Parisian titi of the house, Warren Zaire-Emery is one of the rare elements of the Rouge et Bleu this Wednesday evening to have tried a minimum of interesting things, especially in the first period to break this famous high and intense pressing of the Magpies. He finished the match with 95% successful passes out of more than 65 passes delivered. With a commendable attitude, he once again took his responsibilities at only 17 years old in an atmosphere far from simple and above all aligned in a system where the costume could have been too big, while he formed the only real midfielder training with Ugarte in the Parisian axis this evening. His long attempt from the outside of his foot from 25 meters proves that he wanted – at least – to wake up his teammates (23rd). Our special correspondent gave it a score of 6/10.
Like the Bollaert stadium last night against Sevilla FC, Newcastle did not want to miss their big return to the Champions League at home, 21 years later. One thing is certain: the thousands of Magpies supporters made a lot of noise throughout the match. Between the lovely tifos during the pre-match, the nostalgic English rock music in homage to the Beatles, the songs repeated in unison, the presence of the legend Alan Shearer in the stands, all with an impressive victory at stake . The party couldn’t have been better this Wednesday evening, here in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
FLOPS
As against Olympique de Marseille and Clermont in Ligue 1, the Spanish coach, Luis Enrique decided to renew four offensive elements from the start of the meeting with Gonçalo Ramos, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé but also Randal Kolo Muani. The system remained quite vague, alternating between a 4-4-2 and a 4-2-4. But unlike other outings with this formation, it ended in dismal failure. The four attackers were almost never served or present during the first period. Worse still, they rarely came to the aid of the WZE/Ugarte duo in the middle, to the point where Paris almost had to get rid of the high pressure with only six outfield players. And Luis Enrique did not want to change during the match, remaining with this same system until the end. The first changes also seem to have arrived rather late.
Kylian Mbappé invisible, Marquinhos under pressure, Gianluigi Donnarumma at fault on the third goal, Ousmane Dembélé ineffective, Randal Kolo Muani inefficient, Gonçalo Ramos discreet… In short, far too many important players in the Paris Saint-Germain squad have completely failed to the call for this event which already had a big stake in taking a comfortable mattress in the group F ranking. To discover the notes from our special correspondent, click here.
This is clearly not the main reason which explains this result because it would offend the superb collective performance of Newcastle but also the many flaws of PSG. But several decisions taken by the Romanian referee Mr. Istvan Kovacs are likely to cause a lot of noise in the hours to come. On Newcastle’s second goal, in slow motion, it seems that Jamaal Lascelles made a good hand on the first strike of the action (40th) and that the ball did not touch his head but after several minutes on VAR, Burn’s goal has been validated. Some Parisian supporters are still wondering how Bruno Guimarães was not sent off for this elbow on Manuel Ugarte, far from the ball (45th 7). Even on Lucas Hernandez’s goal, the former Bayern player seemed to be on the verge of offside.
