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Marquinhos found, as if by chance
Unrecognizable for long weeks now, Marquinhos assures that his current form is not linked to the switch to a three-man defense since the start of the season.
We don't have to believe it.
Especially when you see his performance in the victory over OM on Sunday (1-0).
Christophe Galtier had indeed chosen to return to a four-man defense.
“Marqui” started with the right axis, before switching to the left after the exit of Danilo Pereira (see elsewhere).
However, he had a full match from start to finish, in any case better than on his last outings.
In summary, it's not just Kylian Mbappé who isn't playing his real job this season.
On good terms...
Read alsoThe notes of PSG-OM: Neymar scorer in cold blood, Lopez (almost) impassable
A classic all fired up
PSG-OM or OM-PSG are rarely good matches.
Tense, hooked or suspenseful matches, yes.
But for the show, we often remain unsatisfied.
Not this time.
In any case, the two teams created many chances on Sunday evening at the Parc des Princes.
Rhythm, intensity.
41 strikes in total, with seven saves to be credited to Gianluigi Donnarumma on the Parisian side and eight for Pau Lopez, brilliant in the OM goal.
In the end, however, we only got one goal.
But we didn't have time to get bored, the ball often going from one goal to another.
Pleasant.
Paris, the law of the environment
Claimed by many from last season, the five behind scheme (or three it depends) has appeared since the start of the season in Paris under the orders of a Christophe Galtier who is a fan of 4-4-2.
Diagram which was put in parentheses on Saturday, as one might expect.
Because of the absent defenders?
Actually no.
“
There was the will to do something else
”, promises the Parisian coach.
And to continue: “
The last matches were sluggish.
The sequence of matches made us start to purr.
We created fewer situations.
It seemed appropriate to me to add people inside the game compared to what we had identified in the Marseille game.
One thing is certain: it worked.
Marco Verratti and Vitinha generally dominated the Veretout / Rongier doublet and Fabian Ruiz, despite some imperfections here and there, showed that he is better than a simple option off the bench in front of the defense.
Moreover, like Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi has delivered one of his best matches since the start of the season, if not the best, when we imagine him more comfortable in a piston role.
“
We will insist with this system
”, loose Christophe Galtier.
Read alsoPSG-OM: “We will insist with this system” promises Galtier, Tudor saw “too much respect” in his players
Mbappé assumes, on and off the field
Admittedly, he did not score on Sunday night.
But Kylian Mbappé, freer than usual, more complete in the expression of his football, delivered his first assist of the season.
Despite a thinking context, he responded present.
Still.
And he provided after-sales service in the mixed zone.
“
I am very happy.
I never asked for my departure in January.
I was as shocked as everyone.
We were flabbergasted when we found out.
It is completely false.
If I'm angry with the club?
No
,” he hammered.
Read also "I never asked for my departure in January": the development of Mbappé, "fallen from the clouds"
Ginola, respect for elders
Parisian from 1992 to 1995, with a title of champion of France, two coronations in the Coupe de France and one in the Coupe de la Ligue, without forgetting three semi-finals of the European Cup, including one in the Champions League, David Ginola actively participated in the take-off of PSG at the beginning of the Canal+ years.
A club legend.
And the fans haven't forgotten that.
Present at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, he was acclaimed by the Parisian people and received the tribute that his talent demanded.
Respect for elders is important.
And the Parisian Ultras, all the supporters, did not miss it.
CLAW STRIKES
Leg, the stroke of blood
Which fly stung Samuel Gigot?
Entering at the end of the first period in place of the injured Eric Bailly, the Marseille defender completely broke down in the 73rd minute, mowing down Neymar with vigor.
Direct red, the 22nd in the history of confrontations between the two best enemies of French football.
Admittedly, the contact is ultimately not so violent as one might think at real speed and from the stands.
But Gigot could have simply broken the Brazilian's leg if he hadn't jumped just before impact.
A crazy move.
"
In the second half, we pushed very hard but the red card against Samuel Gigot ended the match
," summarizes Igor Tudor.
Read alsoMarquinhos invincible, Mbappé first, Gigot sees red… The key figures after PSG-OM
The clumsiness and… the timidity of OM
“
We respected PSG too much
”.
This is the observation made by Igor Tudor on Sunday.
It is shared by Pau Lopez.
If they adopted an ambitious attitude in this meeting, not hesitating to play the card of the offensive even if it means discovering themselves behind and finding themselves in one against one against the stars of the "MNM", the Marseillais have indeed lacked bite and above all precision in the last gesture.
Prohibitive in the face of such an armada.
Read alsoLigue 1: "Neymar won the match", recognizes Pau Lopez
Defenseless Paris?
When it does not want… If there is one sector in which Christophe Galtier had to hope to be spared from injury, it is defense.
After the Milan Skriniar failure during the summer transfer window, the capital club is indeed short behind.
Especially when playing three in the middle, as had been the case since the start of the season.
And as if by chance, it is in defense that the glitches accumulate... After Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes, injured, Sergio Ramos received a two-match suspension.
And on Sunday, Danilo Pereira was forced to give up his place after 25 minutes.
Besides the (very) young El Chadaille Bitshiabu (17), the Parisian coach has, at the time of writing, only Marquinhos and Nordi Mukiele available for the match in Ajaccio next Friday.