You miss three people and everything is… much more complicated for PSG.
Deprived of Keylor Navas (ribs), Marquinhos (adductors) and Marco Verratti (Covid), Paris sank in Lorient (3-2).
This is not the first time that the followers of the PSG draw up such an observation but, in Morbihan, it appeared more screaming than ever.
It remains to be hoped that these three will recover very quickly.
The February 16 meeting against Barcelona is fast approaching.
Without Verratti, less control
Marco Verratti was close to a record with PSG.
The positive Covid-19 test revealed on Friday prevented the Italian from performing 90 minutes for the 8th time in a row (in Lorient this Sunday).
Over the previous seven entire matches, Verratti had greatly helped Paris on an accounting level: five wins and two draws.
Without this midfielder who is as playful as he is stabilizer, Mauricio Pochettino's system seemed completely unbalanced.
To replace him numerically, the Argentine opted for Danilo Pereira in addition to Leandro Paredes.
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Lorient-PSG (3-2): the ratings of Parisian players
But, together, Danilo and Paredes touched 165 balls.
That is 28 more than the only Verratti against Montpellier (4-0) during the 21st day (137 balls).
Statistics don't always tell the whole story.
This figure demonstrates the importance of the Italian, a key part of Pochettino's system.
Without it, the ball circulates less well and slower.
Paris only succeeded 86% of its passes on the Lorient lawn.
Symptomatic.
Without Marquinhos, fewer victories
What do six of PSG's seven defeats have in common this season?
Those conceded against Lens, Marseille, Manchester, Monaco, Lyon and, since Sunday, Lorient have all been conceded in the absence of Marquinhos.
The Brazilian captain was only present during the setback in Leipzig (2-1).
In short, without its central defender, Paris has every chance of losing.
This is why the concern quickly spread in the Parisian ranks during the match against Montpellier (4-0) when the Brazilian left the lawn holding his groin and grimacing.
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Lorient-PSG (3-2): "In the state of mind, Pochettino has an interest in keeping them down"
In Lorient, his replacement Thilo Kehrer did not exist in the game and has never been complicit with Presnel Kimpembe, also short of competition.
In the absence of Thiago Silva this season, Paris cannot do without Marquinhos in central defense.
Fortunately, the last medical bulletin indicated a favorable evolution of his lesion to the adductors, right side.
His resumption with the group is scheduled for midweek.
Without Navas, fewer decisive stops
Les Merlus shot 16 times at Le Moustoir, on target five times and scored three goals.
What if Keylor Navas' ribs weren't so sore?
In the absence of the Costa Rican, Sergio Rico has started for the sixth time this season in the league.
Beyond the three achievements, which can not be solely attributed to him, the Spaniard exudes a much lower serenity than that of his counterpart.
Two striking images: a failed control of the foot in the first period on a distant pass from Paredes and a total lack of reaction on a ball bouncing in its own area 5 meters from the goal line.
This last action was already a 3-2 ball for Lorient.
On the final face-to-face, in front of Moffi, Rico is neglected by his defense.
But when Navas responds at the right time, Rico is just an ordinary guardian.
Without its number one, Paris becomes a crumbly team.
