PSG’s performance in the Champions League featured both talent and red flags.
The star-studded PSG peppered flashes of brilliance in a game it should have absolutely controlled not for the first time on a Champions League stage.
Only that—it was the classic Paris Saint-Germain. PSG’s Champions League group opening against Juventus was outstanding for the first quarter, scoring two excellent goals. Later, it become indulgent, and at the conclusion, while it didn’t hang at all, it was undoubtedly uneasy. Their first-ever Champions League campaign under Christophe Gaultier got off to a good start with a 2-1 victory over Juventus, but it was overshadowed and, worse yet, Waver proposed PSG. The propensity to give way under tremendous pressure has persisted. Premier League.
PSG has been in outstanding form so far in French season, winning five and drawing one of their six games while scoring 24 goals. Some of the talks taking place between Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi in front of them have been hypnotic; this is the kind of football that the Qatari owners of PSG would have hoped to see when they acquired the team in 2011. However, shining in France is one thing; shining in the Champions League is quite another.
even though the early indications were excellent. The first 22 minutes should be enough to frighten the rest of Europe, even though this will be a considerably tougher test than a fading Juventus. Total control was implied by the interaction, the change in pace, and the capacity to take new perspectives. It appeared as though Juventus had been severely damaged by the halfway point of the first half.
However, PSG did not play as ruthlessly as they could have after jumping out to a 2-0 lead in those first 22 minutes. Perhaps there was a propensity to go overboard in the quest for iconic photos. Many players made a number of independent attempts. But the first two goals, which were the product of two exceptional players working together flawlessly, were so extraordinary that they might have even inspired excess.
Brilliance, Warning Signs PSG
The two goals had a rhythmic buildup that started slowly before suddenly picking up speed. Neymar scooped the ball over Juventus’ defence after the opening five minutes, and Mbappe nudged the ball toward the Brazilian before quickly moving into the area and slamming home a volley. Mbappe gained two points for the first time after holding Achraf Hakimi’s pass off to Marco Veratti and then hammering into a cross.
Positive signals could be seen all throughout the forward line. While Messi and Hakimi on the right side of the field make a dangerous connection after a largely unsuccessful first season, Neymar and Mbappe have frequently been linked. However, PSG has never really had a problem with scoring. Instead, the problem was a front line that was difficult to locate, making it likely that there would always be compromises and vulnerabilities.
And it still exists. The negative side of PSG’s superiority was how bad Juventus was overall. After five straight scudetti, the club fired Max Allegri, and three years ago, it made a major bet on Cristiano Ronaldo in an effort to regain Champions League success. It is still suffering as a result of those choices. The system was upset by Ronaldo’s buyout (how could he possibly cooperate with Allegri’s replacement, the closed doors, and Maurizio Sarri?)
The motivation behind Allegri’s eventual resignation was that his football was no longer at the forefront of contemporary strategic thinking, only matured. Allegri came back last year to oversee the rehabilitation process. Juventus, who finished fourth last year, is off to a shaky start this year, winning just two of their first five league games and primarily relying on Dusanan Vlahovic for goals.
Warning Signs PSG
Despite any reservations about his worldview, Allegri is a very astute tactician. At halftime, they changed positions, leaving the final three players from the first half for the final four. As a result, rather than operating the wingback deeper, Juan Cuadrado and Filipe Kostic, the wide midfielders, got more involved with the attacking strategy. Eight minutes into the second half, Weston McKennie re-initiated Juventus’ comeback with a corrosive cross and a short corner.
As it stood, Juventus lacked the capability to exert the same kind of pressure that Real Madrid has in the previous 16 seasons. PSG was able to keep the ball for an extended period of time and extend the time remaining. In the end, it was a rather easy victory. However, it could have been a lot cosier. And this is not the reason PSG has a history of failure in Europe or why there is uncertainty about their capacity to overcome the final obstacle.
“The 1st 35 minutes and the second half differ slightly from one another. We are aware of our weaknesses. If it were simple, we would already be winners.