The Parc des Princes was waiting for a reaction and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) delivered it on Wednesday, winning 5-3 against Tottenham during the 5th day of the league phase of the Champions League. After the defeat against Bayern Munich (1-2), PSG needed to gain consistency and control; Above all, he has regained rhythm and a form of offensive efficiency. Without being impeccable, the PSG players, trailing twice, managed to win thanks in particular to a hat-trick from Vitinha.
This success allows Ousmane Dembélé’s partners, who entered the second half, to move up to second place in the league phase rankings, the first eight places of which directly qualify for the round of 16. A little earlier in the evening, AS Monaco conceded a frustrating draw on the pitch of the Cypriot club, Paphos (2-2).
What to remember
The Portuguese was in an armchair this evening. After a rather timid first period, he played a step higher in the second. A profitable choice from Luis Enrique, since the former Porto player scored the first hat-trick of his professional career, a week after that of his teammate Joao Neves with Portugal.
0-1, 35ᵉ: on the left side, Bergvall eliminates Parisian defender Pacho and backheels towards Gray, who crosses towards Kolo Muani. The striker, on loan from PSG, heads towards Richarlison, who scores with a header from close range.
1-1, 45th: before the break, Kvaratskhelia plays a two-way corner with the young Parisian Ndjantou, who finds Vitinha, in an interval, at the edge of the area. The Portuguese midfielder shoots without control and scores with the help of the crossbar.
1-2, 50th: on a corner taken at the far post by Porro, Richarlison pulls back towards his teammate Gray, who volleys back, cleared by Pacho on the goal line. But the Ecuadorian sends it back to Kolo Muani, who shoots hard from the right and gives Spurs the advantage.
2-2, 53rd: PSG reacts a few minutes after the second English goal. Kvaratskhelia pivots in the penalty area and finds Vitinha at 16 meters. The midfielder gets on his left foot after dribbling past Spence and scores with a curled left.
3-2, 59th: Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario gets his team back in the middle but, at 20 meters, Sarr loses the ball following pressure from Lucas Hernandez, who entered at the break. Joao Neves quickly heels to launch Fabian Ruiz, who only has to adjust the goalkeeper with a low shot.
4-2, 65th: Kang-in Lee takes a corner which arrives at the near post towards Joao Neves. Following a mix-up in the opponent’s area, the Portuguese loses the ball but Sarr, wanting to restart, gives the ball back to Pacho who shoots hard from the right, into the side net.
4-3, 72ᵉ: Vitinha, although so fair this evening, misses his rake in front of his surface. Kolo Muani takes advantage, eliminates Pacho and scores with a powerful strike. The Parisians were complaining about an offside, but it was not.
5-3, 76ᵉ: a few moments after his error, Vitinha did himself justice with a penalty, which he had obtained following a handball from Romero. The Parisian takes Vicario on the wrong foot to score a hat-trick.
This is the number of goals scored by Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho since his arrival at PSG.
On our scale from A to E, we give this meeting an A. It was a hell of a night of football tonight at the Parc des Princes. Eight goals, endless turnarounds, a hat-trick from a midfielder, a brace from a former Parisian and even a red card to top it all off.
