Hooked by Brest, PSG stalls

While waiting for the altitude to rise, 2024 is indeed the year of all conquests for PSG. Luis Enrique’s team can still be improved on many levels, but the seriousness and commitment that it has shown over the past few weeks are enough, for the moment, to overcome all the obstacles that present themselves on its path in France. It’s a real satisfaction before the big European passes. From the Champions Trophy to the Coupe de France, including the routine of Ligue 1, the reigning champion leaves no stone unturned.

However, this Paris-Brest looked like a trap match, really. Third in Ligue 1 at kick-off, the Breton club is emerging as the big sensation of this season. Last October 29, the diehard Brestois went so far as to prick the pride of the great Kylian Mbappé, hand over mouth after a family peno was snatched at the end, in the rain, on a Sunday afternoon. This second round was just as open. But Paris did not have the last word this time.

A frustrated PSG

The Parisians hit the ground running, as Luis Enrique wanted. Vitinha lit the first fuse at the end of a nice collective movement (3rd), before Kylian Mbappé came up against Bizot (7th). An exciting start to the match before the pace dropped slightly with Brest a little more daring. But the Parisians found the resources to pass the second.

It was in the last quarter of an hour of the first act that everything came to a head. Marco Asensio broke the Brest barrier by improving a splendid ladle from Bradley Barcola – whose record is starting to speak for itself (1-0, 38th). And just before half-time, Randal Kolo Muani, an opportunist, was quicker than his counterpart to score the break goal from close range (2-0, 45th). A salutary goal in the current period for the French international, who is still looking for his sensations on a technical level.

What about Kylian Mbappé in this setting? Despite the absence of his accomplice Ousmane Dembélé at the kick-off, the world champion appeared very strong, taking advantage of his freedom to alternate stalls and lightning accelerations. But he was a little less clinical than usual in the finish (7th, 14th, 23rd).

With a system that is still very changing, Paris has been able to weave its web before making a difference. But this Brest team also showed that it was not on the podium by chance. Eric Roy’s gang had started to get bolder as time passed. An absence of complex which was reflected by the attempts of Le Douaron (19th) or Del Castillo (28th), before a rather fortunate reduction in the score on a confused action which benefited Camara (2-1, 55th). And against all expectations, the Bretons finally broke the mood with a backheel from Pereira Lage (2-2, 80th), before Paris finished with ten men after the expulsion of Barcola in an electric end to the match (90th +4 ).

PSG is therefore stalling after 4 consecutive victories since the start of the calendar year. January will have been instructive. Now it’s time for serious things.