PSG qualified in 8th, Maccabi Haifa corrected by the “MNM”

Published on : 25/10/2022 – 22:52

PSG qualified on Tuesday, October 25, for the knockout stages of the Champions League by largely dominating Maccabi Haifa (7-2). The Parisians were able to count on a great “MNM” (the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trio) but also sometimes lacked concentration, letting their evening opponent come back twice to score.

Maccabi applies from the start of the match – as in the first leg – strong pressure on the PSG players, who are struggling to deploy their game at the moment.

This does not prevent the Parisians from getting a few chances, but Fabian Ruiz (9th) then Neymar (18th) lack accuracy in the last gesture. It was before Mbappé served Messi with his toe in the penalty area: the Argentinian prodigy, on his first opportunity to strike, adjusted the Maccabi goalkeeper with a delicious exterior from the unstoppable left (19th, 1-0) .

Maccabi struggles to exist other than physically in this match. PSG then put the accelerator thanks to its “MNM”. On a nice Messi-Neymar-Mbappé ball comeback in midfield, the French and the Brazilian combine into the opposing penalty area. The ball returns to Mbappé, who adjusts the opposing goalkeeper with a superb right foot roll (32nd, 2-0).

And in a few minutes the match turns into a demonstration: this time, the Neymar-Messi-Mbappé trio combines in the last 25 meters. The “Pulga” shifts Neymar to his left, free of any marking thanks to Mbappé’s cross call. The Brazilian striker rolls up a shot that makes the post in (35th, 3-0).

Despite a few minutes of inattention where Maccabi reduced the mark thanks to Seck (38th, 3-1), the Parisians drove the point home before halftime. Messi combines with Mbappé in the middle, then frees up a space at the entrance to the Maccabi penalty area. He sends a curled shot from inside the left, again unstoppable (45th, 4-1).

PSG unfolds, and the match turns to correction

Maccabi come back well at the start of the second half. In a few minutes, the Israeli club obtained two chances including a header from Pierrot (49th) which sent a shiver through the Parisian defense. A minute later, Maccabi reduced the mark again: on a corner, Seck again adjusted Donnarumma with a header at the far post and scored twice (50th, 4-2).

As at the end of the first period, PSG pays with a goal for a few minutes of inattention. Not enough to make the Parisians doubt, who narrowly miss to widen the gap by Hakimi (56th). It’s only off for a few minutes … PSG then unfolds with a Mbappé who goes there with his double (64th – 5-2): Hakimi takes depth, tempers and finds the French striker with a cross millimeter. Mbappé, eccentric, rolls up with his right foot and sends the ball to lodge in the small net opposite the Maccabi goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, it was Neymar’s turn to give the score the appearance of a correction (csc in the 67th, 6-2). The Brazilian striker recovers a ball and sinks into the surface of Maccabi; from a tight angle, he crosses a few meters from the cage and Maccabi defender Goldberg can only deflect the ball into his net.

PSG seem to have provided the essentials in this meeting, and Maccabi are physically short of resources. The Parisians control the game by the score and set the pace. The match drops in intensity but can get carried away very quickly too, as in this sublime Messi-Mbappé combination where the “Pulga” sends a heavy shot crashing into the opposing crossbar (77th). The 7-2 is narrowly missed.

Ekitike, just entered, wants to participate in the party, ideally served by Messi. But he fails to adjust his shot (82nd). Soler – another substitute who has just arrived on the green rectangle – does not miss his chance on a new caviar from Messi, and scores one more goal for PSG (84th, 7-2)