The French clasico will arguably never have the sparkle and global repercussion of the Spanish original but having seen both this Sunday, Ligue 1 will have nothing to be ashamed of. This PSG-OM will have been spectacular, exciting, open to each team and tense like a crossbow at times, culminating in the exclusion twenty minutes from the end of Samuel Gigot, who had tied himself to Neymar’s ankle with a harshness. exaggerated.
In Madrid, Karim Benzema scored the first goal while in Paris, Neymar put his expert storyteller plaque on the game confirming that great matches belong to great players, a timeless refrain.
Not perfect, but exciting
Neymar’s goal came to reward a first period removed from the Parisians, not perfect but exciting. Undoubtedly the ransom of the change of system, which seems perfectly adapted to Ligue 1. We thought that Christophe Galtier was going to adopt a 4-3-3, he chose a more subtle, more elaborate organization, a 4-3-1 -2 adjustable in 4-4-2 with clearly Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé at the forefront, each on his favorite side.
The role of Neymar as a moving number 10, sometimes closer to his attackers, often incorporated in the middle, gives meaning to this tactic. With his volume found, the Brazilian is active everywhere and it is first of all him that the Marseillais have not been able to control. Its central position freed Mbappé, biting on the left and infernal for OM’s three-man defense. The French technician has found the best system to best exploit the qualities of his three stars, again poison in the feet, even if Messi continues to line the uprights of L 1.
A taste of Russian roulette
But this spring makeover, if we rely on the mild weather, does not solve everything. Paris did not look more or better protected than before when they were already undefeated in fifteen outings in their 3-4-3. Marseille found themselves an impressive number of times in a shooting position, with a midfielder and full-backs overwhelmed, forcing the axis to play one-on-one like Russian roulette.
It can pass in Ligue 1, probably not in the Champions League. It is possible that in the middle, if it is a question of strengthening it, Fabian Ruiz is not necessarily the right complement, or that he still needs time. The slender Spaniard, excellent raiser, useful for the overcrowding and technically fine, lacks harshness and combat sense.
Tactical headaches
The success of Galtier, who took the risk of changing the clasico one evening at the end of an absolutely crazy week in the life of PSG, one of the most tormented of the decade with the desire to leave Kylian Mbappé and the digital army responsible for registering csc to denigrate his own, marks a new stage in the progression of his PSG.
Now he knows he has this card too, although the return of Sergio Ramos (not before the end of the month for the reception of Troyes) will undoubtedly cause him tactical headaches. But these problems, with the first victory in four games, against OM in addition, he must like them.
MATCH SHEET
Half-time: 1-0
Referee: Mr. Turpin
But. PSG : Neymar (45e + 2)
Warning. PSG: Marquinhos (74th)
Exclusion. OM: Leg (72nd)
PSG : Donnarumma – Hakimi, Bernat, Marquinhos (cap.), Pereira (Mukiele, 25e) – Verratti, Vitinha, Fabian – Mbappé, Neymar (Soler, 88e), Messi (Sarabia, 79e). Entr. : Galtier.
Marseille : Lopez – Mbemba, Bailly (Gigot, 44th), Balerdi – Clauss, Rongier (cap.), Veretout (Gueye, 79th), Tavares (Kabore, 70th) – Guendouzi, Sanchez (Dieng, 79th), Harit (Ünder, 71st) . . . . Entr. : Tudor.
