OM-PSG: Paris knows how to keep its back, Mbappé misses his exit, the referee causes controversy... Favorites and scratches

Special envoy to Marseille

FAVORITES

Attacking football, spectacle and excessive possession? This is what PSG wants to put in place under Luis Enrique. However, it was not the revenue that allowed the Parisians to win in Marseille (0-2) on Sunday at the Vélodrome. Sluggish for a large part of the first period, at 11 against 11, the Rouge et Bleu made the difference during the second act, at 10 against 11, on two well-executed counterattacks. OM pushed, Paris gave in… but did not break. “In the first half, we were far from our level, it's also partly my fault, there were some unusual technical errors. We only had two chances... In the second half, I am very happy with the solidarity of my team, the attitude and in particular the players who came on. We played in a different style from the usual style in the second half, but it went well,” noted Luis Enrique. Paris also knows how to keep its back. It will be noted that it is easier to achieve this when there is a (great) goalkeeper like Gigio Donnarumma in the cages… Great.

We were telling you about a Vitinha who is gaining ground before this 107th Classic. The Portuguese pulled out all the stops to prove us right. Positioned as a sentry at the start, he had a full match, helping Paris to escape the opposing pressure. That didn't stop him from stepping up in the second half and scoring his seventh goal of the season. All before blocking a shot which was heading towards goal at the end of the game. Strong.

SEE ALSO – Vitinha’s opening score during OM-PSG on March 31 (0-2)

Also readOM: “If we have this state of mind, we will have a good end to the season,” promises Gasset

Basically, this OM was already not starting with the favor of the forecasts. And with the problems that continue to befall the Marseille club in terms of injuries, the mission was even more complicated. “The international truce was terrible,” as Jean-Louis Gasset confessed. Still, despite the gap that separates the two teams on paper in terms of individuality and injuries, with the exits of Chancel Mbemba and Leonardo Balerdi along the way, the Olympians looked the Parisians straight in the eye during a large part of the match. Above all, they lacked efficiency in front of goal, beyond the prowess of Donnarumma. “If we had played against a more specific opponent, we would surely have been penalized,” slips Luis Enrique. “If we are in this state of mind, we will have a good end to the season,” promises Gasset, noting that his players “tried, and the public saw it.” The Marseille coach then completed his remarks: “Let’s keep this state of mind and get some players back.” Positive, but not in the ranking: OM are seventh. For the C1, it will be very, very hard.

CLAW STRIKES

A captain should not do this. No doubt very excited at the idea of ​​making an impression for his last Classic with Paris-SG, Kylian Mbappé put in a lackluster performance on Sunday. He probably hoped to have time to catch up at the end of the match. Missed. Luis Enrique released him shortly after the hour mark. A choice that the latter, annoyed, did not want to comment on... Still, the former Monegasque did not hide his surprise, his disappointment, his discontent at the time. We can even guess insults directed at the Spanish coach by reading his lips... Bad image. We understand his frustration for the reasons mentioned earlier, but Luis Enrique was thinking of Wednesday, and the Coupe de France semi-final. In addition, it was the player who replaced Mbappé, Gonçalo Ramos, who scored the second Parisian goal. Luis Enrique 1, Mbappé 0.

Note that the said Kylian Mbappé made an enigmatic publication on Instagram after the match. While his teammates spoke of their joy in their respective publications on social networks, “KM” posted a photo in which we see him leaving the field, head down, holding his armband in his right hand. No legend, but we can guess the meaning.

Also read “It’s obvious”: the OM-PSG referee explains Beraldo’s (questionable) red and the goal denied to Veretout

Two big highlights in terms of refereeing. Let's start with the second, the disallowed goal to Jordan Veretout in the second half, disallowed due to an offside position by Luis Henrique. In our assessment, the decision was justified. We have the right to be surprised that Benoît Bastien did not call on the Var on this matter. Variable geometry. Still, Luis Henrique, if he does not directly play a game, is very close to Gigio Donnarumma at the time. It inevitably bothers the Italian goalkeeper. On the first situation, it's something else. The referee gives Lucas Beraldo a straight red for a stroll along the touchline and 40 meters from goal on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If he had given a yellow to the Brazilian, who had already been warned before, no problem. Mr. Bastien did not do so. In fact, he was going to ask to return to the game... when he was asked by the Var. After viewing the images, he brandished direct red. He couldn't give any more yellow. So he chose to fix one mistake... with another.

Note that the person concerned explained himself on Amazon Prime Video, it is rare enough to be highlighted, saluted and congratulated. He notably said that Beraldo was guilty of “wiping out a clear scoring opportunity, that’s obvious”. 40 meters from the goal and with Danilo Pereira at the same height, it is debatable, very debatable... One thing is certain: in either case, we can still talk about the use of the Var. Endless debate.

Contested in Dantean conditions, in the rain and a strong wind, this Classic did not reach the heights in terms of play and spectacle, let's be honest. Both teams greatly lacked efficiency in front of the opposing goal and overall had a lot of technical waste. All this while the red card to Beraldo changed the face of the match and encouraged the Parisians to lower their ambitions in terms of play. Fortunately, there was the atmosphere at the Vélodrome, we are never disappointed to this point of view. We will highlight the fireworks at the start of the match. Impressive. Not sure that everyone shares this appreciation from the Professional Football League side... Partial closed session in sight. The atmosphere therefore, and the suspense. OM hoped to reverse the trend or at least take a point until the second Parisian goal, the work of Gonçalo Ramos, in the 85th minute of play. That's already it.