DECRYPTAGE – Everything you need to know ahead of the fourth matchday between Paris and Los Colchoneros.
After his draw with PSV (1-1)PSG’s second consecutive Champions League match at the Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique’s players in trouble in the C1 standingswill host Atlético Madrid this Wednesday (9pm) in the matchday four. A match broadcast by Canal+ and you can follow with live commentary on our website.
What’s the journey so far?
PSG have been dominant in domestic competitions, but have picked up just four points from their first three European outings this season. A miraculous victory against Girona (1-0)A match missed on the pitch Arsenal (2-0 defeat) and a disappointing draw against PSV Eindhoven (1-1). In the rankingParis started this fourth day in 19th place. Good for a play-off berth. Neither brilliant nor reassuring. Particularly given the tough fixture list that awaits the Rouge et Bleu, which includes Atlético, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. However, this match is not “not decisive“, according to Luis Enrique. “If a team loses (this) Wednesday but wins the next four games, it will qualify without a worry“he added. That’s true. Atlético Madrid are no better off. Worse, in fact. After beating Leipzig (3-2), the Matelassiers exploded at Benfica (4-0). before going down to Lille in Madrid (1-3).. La Liga’s best defense takes a beating in Europe.
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What is the history between the two clubs?
Virgin. Atlético Madrid are one of the few big names in Europe that PSG have never faced before. Paris have often played against Spanish clubs, notably Real and Barça, but also Sevilla, Real Sociedad, La Coruna, Bilbao, Valencia, Santander and, this season, Girona. Not the Colchoneros. Among the most famous clubs on the Old Continent, the Parisians have yet to play against Inter Milan and Tottenham. Several PSG players have already scored against Atlético, when they were playing in La Liga: Ousmane Dembélé and Marco Asensio.
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A goal for the Parisian forwards at last?
After three games in the C1, PSG have only scored two goals. And neither of those goals were scored by the forwards. In fact, they were both the result of a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper. Paulo Gazzaniga scored an own goal at PSG-Girona, from a Nuno Mendes shot. And Walter Benitez miscued a long-range shot from Achraf Hakimi. Not only did the strikers fail to score, they weren’t even involved in either goal! Remember thatOusmane Dembélé ruled out for Arsenal. The fact remains that PSG need goals from their attacking players, “Dembouz” and Bradley Barcola in particular. How about it? “I have no doubt: we’ll be one of the highest-scoring teams. When will it happen? I’m not sure.“, notes “Lucho”. The sooner the better… It’s worth noting that the aforementioned Barcola leads the L1 scoring charts (8 goals). In C1, he scored just one goal in 13 matches.
Who spent more last summer, PSG or Atlético?
For once, it’s Atlético. The Colchoneros paid €185m excluding bonuses last summer, including €75m for Argentine international striker Julian Alvarez, a transfer from Manchester City. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea, €42m), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad, €34.5m) and Alexander Sorloth (Villarreal, €32m) also strengthened Diego Simeone’s squad. The Parisians spent just under €170m (excluding bonuses) to secure the services of Joao Neves (Benfica, €60m), Désiré Doué (Rennes, €50m), Willian Pacho (Frankfurt, €40m) and Matfey Safonov (Krasnodar, €20m). Chelsea swallowed up almost €239m during the mercato.
Safonov or Donnarumma, who’s in goal for Paris?
Suspense. Before PSG-Lens (1-0)we even mentioned “the Safonov mystery“on our websitewondering why PSG went for the Russian goalkeeper for €20m last summer. But it was Matfey Safonov who kept goal for Paris on Saturday. And Luis Enrique made no secret of the fact that this was a tactical choice.. The question is whether the hierarchy is really in question. As for PSG-Atlético, “vou’ll find out tomorrow, laughed the Spanish coach on Tuesdayin front of the press. “After a good cappuccino, I’ll decide in the morning which goalkeeper I think is most likely to play.“he added, stressing that “all three (Donnarumma, Safonov and Tenas) are ready to play, that’s the most important thing. If one of them wakes up with a fever, if one of the three is ill, what do we do? Do we cry or laugh? Tomorrow morning, the first thing we’ll do is make sure everyone’s all right. Then we’ll decide who the lucky 11 will be to start the match. But everyone’s a number 1“.