PSG-Dortmund (0-1): complicated final ball for Mbappé

With his hands on his knees, he remained prostrate for a moment. Eyes turned towards the lawn, as if to really become aware of the situation. His last outing at the Parc des Princes on the European scene, of course Kylian Mbappé had not imagined it like that, placed under the sign of sadness and disappointment. But this Tuesday, May 7 in the evening, he will not have been entitled to anything, as a farewell gift except a nightmare scenario which, beyond a new elimination at the gates of the League final champions, will not even have given him the opportunity to shake the nets one last time in front of his audience.

The day before, at a press conference, Luis Enrique seemed to send a message to his star striker by releasing a scathing “even world stars must help defend”. No offense to the Spanish coach, on the condition, perhaps, that they manage to score first. Six days after a first act at Signal Iduna Park which he crossed light years from his usual level, from the minimum required in any case for this type of continental meeting, the Parisian top scorer has not really caught up the blow, nor raised the bar this Wednesday evening at the Parc des Princes.

No more inspired than last Wednesday

No more in Cannes, nor more inspired than last Wednesday, during the first half-hour Mbappé only offered Parisian supporters a pale copy of the one who, with 43 goals scored in 45 matches this season, is jockeying with the Munich’s Harry Kane (44 goals) in the race for this Golden Boot rewarding the top European scorer.

With the exception of his volley from the right, too timid, attempted after a missed header from Marquinhos (7th), it was a very complicated start to the match that the Parisian number 7 experienced for his last European outing at the Parc des Princes . Not comfortable on this left side that he likes, however, delicate on many of his controls, Mbappé had, at the half hour of play, almost lost half of his balls (7 out of 15), like Ousmane Dembélé (13 out of 25).

Muzzled by the defense and sometimes unlucky, Mbappé did not make the difference. LP/Fred Dugit

However, it is from the duo that the first real Parisian opportunity comes. Finally found on this little-used left flank, finally also provocative with the ball at his feet, Mbappé moves back into the axis, shifts Zaire-Emery who extends on Dembélé. But the former Barcelona player’s shot flies into the clouds (31st). In the process, Fabian Ruiz tries to alert Mbappé behind, but Hummels intervenes (35th). Before the break, the Frenchman returns the courtesy to the Spaniard, but this time, it is Schlotterbeck who is on the verge of deceiving his own goalkeeper (45th).

He participated in the pole festival

Mbappé is, like Paris, not the most flamboyant. But he doesn’t give up and tries to land a shot from the left corner of the area. Diverted, it falls at the feet of Zaire-Emery who, at point blank range, hits the first post of the evening (47th). A blow made even harder by the fact that, beyond Brandt’s opening goal (50th), three other times the amounts came to slow down Paris in its quest for a goal. Like Nuno Mendes and Vitinha, the Parisian number 7 will also fail on the bar following a reflex from Kobel (87th).

Despite eight goals on the clock, Kylian Mbappé’s final crusade will be remembered more for its definitive character than for its spectacular side. More than his three achievements in the group stage, all at home, it was his decisive profile against Real Sociedad and then Barcelona – which allowed for the first time a French club to qualify for the next round after be inclined at home – which everyone will remember.

But unable to repeat the blow of the eighth – one goal on the way, two on the return – and to be as effective as in the quarter – double at Montjuïc -, Kylian Mbappé will have, like Paris, given the impression of leaving the Champions League through a back door.