A goal and a half and a reassuring performance.
Despite the tasteless draw conceded by PSG against Stade de Reims (2-2), Gonçalo Ramos showed his advantage this Sunday noon at the Parc des Princes.
Unlike his ghostly performance in Monaco (0-0, March 1), the Portuguese demonstrated that he could be a credible recourse at the forefront of the Parisian attack.
He first pushed Yunus Abdelhamid into a foul for the equalizer against his side (17th) before giving his team the advantage two minutes later with a clever and slightly deflected pointer.
His ninth goal of the season in 28 appearances and 14 starts with PSG.
The antipodes of Mbappé style
A new one, a real one, a little old-fashioned, like Olivier Giroud.
Here is how we could summarize the profile of the Lusitano international.
Facing the dashing Rémois, who deserve to bring home a point from this trip, Ramos played Ramos, showing himself available in the area, where he touched a third of his balls (13 out of 30).
In terms of construction, it contributed little, confining itself to its mission as a fixing point.
It was not helped either by the sluggishness of the collective animation, especially on the wings.
But as soon as he was found, his deviations found takers.
Which seems to correspond to the requests of the staff, just like their pressing at loss.
Paris did not doubt for long and scored 2 goals in quick succession to take the advantage!
🔵🔴
Gonçalo Ramos, involved every time, provokes a CSC from Abdelhamid before scoring his 6th goal of the season in Ligue 1 🇵🇹#PSGSDR |
#Ligue1UberEats pic.twitter.com/GXWVgblrNj
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) March 10, 2024
On the other hand, he should never be asked to create differences far from the goal.
He doesn't have the speed and drive needed for that.
His duel lost against Abdelhamid in the second half (63rd) was a reminder of this.
His style is truly the polar opposite of that of Kylian Mbappé, once again spared by Luis Enrique and entered in the 73rd in place of… Ramos.
A finisher that holds up
So yes, this is not the kind of performance to shake up Luis Enrique's certainties and shake up the hierarchy in the short term.
The Barcola-Mbappé-Dembélé trio is favored by the coach in big matches.
We saw it again on Tuesday in San Sebastian during the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League where the team even played without a number nine.
But with a view to next season, a horizon on which the Asturian likes to insist now that Mbappé has formalized his departure, Ramos continues to score points in the finisher's costume.
Also read: PSG: Messi, Totti, Mbappé… What relationship does Luis Enrique have with the stars?
A situation which obviously does not suit Randal Kolo Muani, who came into play again late this Sunday (69th).
“My decisions are clear, what I can say is that he is a top striker like Kolo Muani.
I'm very happy with both, I hope they are the present and the future of the club.
There will be times when they play less, like in all seasons,” Luis Enrique said in January about these two summer recruits.
Two months later, the Portuguese is the only one who was able to take advantage of the rotation policy imposed by Luis Enrique.