Paris Saint-Germain resumed its march forward in the Champions League by taming Tottenham (5-3) at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday November 26, thanks to a hat-trick from Vitinha and despite three inspirations from its player loaned to the Londoners Randal Kolo Muani.
This victory puts PSG back on the podium in the league phase (2nd, 12 points). The team arrived escorted by some doubts after losing its superb European champion against Bayern Munich, who had dominated at the Park before the international break (2-1), and while the curse of injuries is stubborn, with still Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué on the flank.
And Richarlison’s goal (35th) on a lofted header from a certain Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG to Tottenham and coming as a masked avenger, completed the freezing of a stadium already frozen by the cold. Captain Marquinhos, for his 500th in the red and blue jersey, could only see the damage.
And it was also the Brazilian who took the cannonball from “RKM” in the head at the start of the second act (50th, 2-1), without being able to get it out of the goal. Kolo Muani continued to take his revenge for having been exfiltrated by coach Luis Enrique, first at Juventus Turin last season then at Tottenham this season, with a raid concluded by a dribble and a strong shot (72nd, 4-3).
In all these cases, the surprise was not total since the Parisians, with Quentin Ndjantou (18 years old) established at 9 while awaiting the return of Ousmane Dembélé, did not dominate the debates as much as they had crushed Atalanta (4-0) or even Bayer Leverkusen (7-2).
Nudge and red card
Fortunately, Paris was able to react to these English initiatives, both times with distant strikes from Vitinha. Just before halftime, he warmed his foot with a first attempt, diverted. On the corner that followed, served superbly by Ndjantou, the Portuguese took responsibility to reach under the crossbar (45th, 1-1).
And, at the 53rd, « Viti » extricated himself from the marking on the edge of the area before curling a shot from the left which left Guglielmo Vicario no chance (2-2). He concluded his masterpiece with a penalty taken without his usual feints (76th, 5-3).
A quarter of an hour earlier, PSG showed that it has one of the most effective midfields in Europe with, after a high recovery from Lucas Hernandez, a clever backheel from João Neves for Fabián Ruiz, ideally positioned to deceive the London goalkeeper (59th, 3-2).
Then, from a corner (65th), defender Willian Pacho thought he sealed the score and dashed the hopes of the « Spurs »who came to repent of their timidity against Arsenal on Sunday (4-1 defeat). This was without counting the distance duel between Vitinha and Kolo Muani, which lasted until the end of the match.
Final adventure: the avoidable red card of Lucas Hernandez, for an elbow similar to the one which had already earned him an exclusion against Bayern at the Club World Cup in July.
Regardless, after being scared, Luis Enrique’s PSG once again showed off its mental and technical resources. He is applying more than ever for a warm place in the top 8 directly qualifying for the round of 16. Next step: the trip to Bilbao on December 10.
