Paris sweeps Toulouse but not the doubts

And to think that in just four days, Paris is changing category, moving into another dimension. The prospect, encouraging a few weeks ago, is perhaps a little less so, so much lately it no longer offers the same reading.

The posters against OM on Wednesday in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, ahead of Monaco next weekend on behalf of the 23rd day of Ligue 1 and the reception of Bayern Munich in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on Valentine’s Day have certainly lost none of their brilliance. But PSG has lost so much of its own at the start of the year that it is impossible not to wonder about its ability to play the leading roles in the series of shocks that will decide the success of its season. .

Saturday evening, after the success (2-1) gleaned against Toulouse, the 17th in Ligue 1, the most optimistic will certainly be able to say that the troops of Christophe Galtier have provided the essentials. That they have kept their precious mattress on OM and Lens (who will play on Sunday) in the quest for an eleventh league title.

They will be able to reassure themselves, too, by noting that for the second time this season, Paris has had the energy and the character to turn the tide. And that after having already faced it against Troyes at the end of October (4-3), the club of the capital is, contrary to the scenarios experienced during the setbacks against Rennes and Lens, managed to win after being led to the score.

Paris has, it is true, not to sulk its pleasure, or rather its relief, both the combined absences of Neymar (adductor), Mbappé (thigh), Ramos (adductor), Kimpembe (recovery), Verratti (suspended) and Mukiele (ischio) probably did not make the job easier for him.

Two flashes signed Hakimi and Messi

But Christophe Galtier had rightly warned that absences could not constitute an excuse. That even if five of the six field players who took place on his bench were under 20 years old, Juan Bernat being the only one not to attend the training center, his Paris had to rev up and sign a full match in all sectors .

It is clear that the wishes of the Parisian coach have not been granted, Paris having not raised the fever this Saturday evening at the Park. On the contrary, the free kick conceded by Gianluigi Donarumma following a curious placement of the wall sent some shivers through the stands, as did the injury of Renato Sanches, who came out in tears and his left thigh bruised, or even the copy of some second knives, transparent or uninspired.

Despite more momentum and more attempts than in January (11 shots to 2 in the first period), it took two flashes of genius, two tasty wrapped leg kicks from the left of Hakimi (38th) and Messi (58th) to avoid in Paris a new poor performance. Sufficient to avoid a crisis before shocks in stock, not to sweep away doubts.

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