The match within the match with Xavi, Luis Enrique took it in the right direction the day before kick-off, at a press conference. Twenty-four years after being a bit offensive with his former midfielder, the PSG coach was not as dominant in his duel on Wednesday evening at the Parc des Princes for this quarter-first leg of the Champions League.
He who, the day before, assured that there was no doubt about the fact that the one who most represented the footballing spirit of Barça was him (and not Xavi) saw his young colleague come to teach him a lesson at the Park of Princes. “It’s me (who best represents the spirit), without a doubt,” he said as a provocation towards his Blaugrana counterpart. It’s not an opinion, look at the data, ball possession, scoring chances, high pressing, look at the trophies, the titles. »
With the exception of the titles and trophies, no offense to the Parisian coach, but the rest was, overall, mainly to the advantage of Xavi and Barça during this first act. No doubt since, as usual or almost, the Parisian coach had his little surprises at kick-off.
Exit Warren Zaire-Emery, replaced by Lee Kang-In in the midfield, exile of Marquinhos on the right flank to replace Hakimi’s suspension and welcome to Beraldo, back in defense after two suspension matches, and especially to Marco Asensio, aligned at the forefront of the attack for his first start of the season on the European scene. Two bitter failures.
The Asensio bet quickly abandoned
Dressed in a costume much too big for him, Beraldo was overwhelmed by events and his adversaries. As for the Spaniard, he almost died out with his partners after a short quarter of play. Harmless in attack, feverish in defense and logically led at the break by Raphinha who took advantage of the errors of the Parisian central defense and the bad outing of Donnarumma (37th), this unrecognizable Paris seemed to find inspiration under the impetus of the tactical changes of its coach during the break.
The replacement of Marquinhos in the center of defense, the passage of Lucas Hernandez to the right, the entry of Warren Zaire-Emery into the midfield, that of Bradley Barcola in place of Asensio and the passage of Ousmane Dembélé left axis for a moment led us to believe that the tide had turned.
More enterprising, more aggressive and finally sure of its strengths, Paris has risen to the demanding level of this European quarter-final. In two minutes, Dembélé’s missile from the left under the bar of Ter Stegen (48th) and the delicious cross strike from Vitinha (50th) made us believe in Luis Enrique’s stroke of genius. Missed.
The freshness of Barcelona, the volley from Raphinha, again, on a love ball from Pedri (63rd), combined with the headbutt from Christensen (77th) will have got the better of the Parisian good intentions. Beaten for the first time at home since the defeat against Nice on September 15 (3-2), Paris and its coach have six days ahead of them to show that they are capable of imitating their tormentor of the day, next week in Montjuic.
