PSG: Bradley Barcola’s impressive takeover!

Don’t talk to them about age. In the wake of the alien Kylian Mbappé, a horde of young Parisian talents are pulling in the same direction to establish themselves at the highest level. If Warren Zaire-Emery, at the age of 17, is regularly praised for his above-average qualities, another nugget from the Ile-de-France region impresses and seems to be part of this tight caste. Her name ? Bradley Barcola. Arriving from OL last summer, the right winger, belonging to the 2002 generation, continues to amaze everyone. First criticized by some for a lack of offensive realism, the native of Lyon shines today with his ability to change the course of a match.

Barcola continues at the highest level!

Scorer against Nantes during the 15th day of Ligue 1, the number 29 of the Rouge et Bleu was also decisive by opening the score on the pitch at RC Lens on January 14. A starter in Paris’s last five league outings, the OL-trained player once again benefited from Luis Enrique’s confidence against Stade Brestois on Sunday evening. Technically gifted and impactful in his lane, he was quick to return it by sending a marvelous pass to Marco Asensio, author of the first Parisian goal. Alongside Kylian Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani, also a scorer, Barcola simply lit up PSG’s game. Riding on the confidence accumulated over the last few weeks, the Parisian nugget has often undermined Kenny Lala, also releasing numerous dangerous balls behind the Brest defense.

Clairvoyance in the last pass was also noticed just before the break where he found Asensio once again before the Spaniard’s shot was repelled by Marco Bizot. Opportunist, RKM took the opportunity, despite everything, to make the break. So, certainly, PSG generally disappointed on a collective level – causing the immense frustration of Luis Enrique – but without Barcola, there is no doubt that the face displayed by the reigning French champions would have been much more gloomy. Symbol of this impact? His noted complicity with Kylian Mbappé. As in Lens, Barcola, in fact, shone with its ability to free up space for the Bondynois, while serving him in ideal positions (45th+1, 68th, 87th).

The first red card of his career!

If the former Monegasque showed a certain lack of success, the dropouts of his young teammate often unbalanced the SB29 rearguard. Enough to validate Luis Enrique’s choice to no longer do without him in his starting lineup, with the exception of the two Coupe de France matches where he remained on the bench. A power gain also perceptible in terms of figures… Thus, since last season, Barcola is the second most decisive player in L1 (18 times, with 7 goals and 11 assists) after Elye Wahi (27) among the born talents from 2002. Author of 13 duels won (out of 22 contested), 7 successful dribbles out of 10 and a serious defensive attitude (4 balls recovered), Barcola, however, saw his performance somewhat tarnished by a red card received in the last moments.

First warned for protest (90th + 1), he was finally sent off three minutes later after receiving a second warning for an unnecessary foul on Billal Brahimi (90 + 4th). A sad ending which could also justify Luis Enrique’s restraint when discussing his protégé’s performance at a press conference. “If Barcola is a major player in our team? No. All players are major players, I do not distinguish between players., assured the Spaniard, visibly very marked by the scenario of this meeting. Already suspended for the trip to Strasbourg next Friday, the young Frenchman risks, for his part, missing other meetings if the League’s disciplinary committee were to sanction him more harshly.

With this in mind, the new nugget of PSG could also miss the round of 16 of the Coupe de France against… Brest, on February 7. One thing is certain, despite the first expulsion of his career, Bradley Barcola, credited with a 7 by the FM editorial team for his performance against Brest, stands out, today, as a pillar of this Parisian team where Luis Enrique never seems to want to set a hierarchy in stone. “I am very happy with the attitude of my attackers but if we want to aim for all the titles, we have to count on all the attackers, that they come out of their comfort zone and that they be even better. This is the key for me”, recalled, in this regard, the former coach of La Roja. A speech which definitely does not frighten the kid from Lyon…