PSG-Dortmund: Mbappé revanchist, guru Luis Enrique, volcanic Parc des Princes… Reasons to hope

Back against the wall. After their 1-0 defeat in Dortmund, during the Champions League semi-final first leg, the Parisians have no other choice but to win this Tuesday (9 p.m.), to reach the final (June 1) . A goal difference, heading for overtime, or even penalties. Two goals difference or more, on the way to Wembley, against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. “Too bad... But it’s still open,” swore Gianluigi Donnarumma, at Signal Iduna Park. The locker room ? Everyone is positive. We were nervous for this evening (smile), but positive for the return match. Reasons for hope? We're gonna give everything. I know that the team will give everything to reach the final, it’s very important.” PSG will give everything? Still happy. There are other reasons for hope, more concrete than the cliché mentioned by the Italian.

“We know we can do it, we have already shown it,” says Marquinhos. And there's no need to go back long. Beaten 2-3 in the first leg, Luis Enrique's players won in Barcelona (1-4) in the quarter-final return. Proof that it is possible. Obviously, it's simpler if the locals shoot themselves in the foot by playing with 10 men for a large part of the match. Nevertheless, PSG did it. A qualification after losing at home in the first leg? This had never happened in Paris, after six previous ones. There is a start for everything. What about in the event of an away defeat in the first leg? The capital club did it too, once. It was in the round of 16, with a 2-1 defeat in the first leg and a 2-0 victory in the second leg. Guess which opponent? Borussia Dortmund. A return match played in an empty Parc des Princes but boiling outside, while the Covid pandemic was rearing its ugly head. Neymar Jr and Juan Bernat made the difference. Two players who are far from Paris today. It's up to others to put on the costume of the hero(s) against BVB 09 this time, so as not to harbor eternal regrets.

“We want to make our supporters proud, we have nothing left to lose and we will go for this final. » As in the quarter-final first leg lost against FC Barcelona (2-3), Luis Enrique quickly switched to the rest on Wednesday evening. Mobilisator. With no Ligue 1 match on the program this weekend, the Spanish technician knows the tricks to use to sublimate his group next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. Conductor of the historic comeback with Barça... against PSG, the latter did not leave the Ruhr dejected, aware of the qualities of his troops and their ability to be able to score against any European team. By alternating in the coming days between cuddle therapy and reprimands, like Barcola's dubious defensive retreats which annoyed him on the edge of the pitch, just like Mbappé's too light increase in pressure which led to the only goal of the match, " Lucho” knows what to emphasize. He knows the strike force of his group, its state of mind and freshness could also be an important element in the future battle to come. With words, gestures and experience, he wants to spread the idea to his group that a turnaround is largely possible. Once again.

Certainly, PSG did not have their best match in Germany. It is a fact. Some players missed out, particularly on the left (Barcola, Mendes), Borussia's goal was largely avoidable, certain choices by Luis Enrique raise questions and Kylian Mbappé has already been more prominent. Despite this, there was room. Widely. “Today's match (last Wednesday) gives me hope, it shows what we can do much better in Paris. We weren't having our best night and yet we had opportunities to score and bring a draw to Paris, or even win, assured Marquinhos. We had two posts, chances with Fabi (Ruiz) on the crosses... We had a lot of chances. We just need to improve this last gesture. I am sure that in Paris, history will change. And the balloons that we did not manage to materialize, we will succeed in doing so. Note that Dortmund also had the opportunities to score, in this match which became very open after the break. It could have been 2-0, and it was no longer the same story.

Still, as “Marqui” says, it is difficult to believe that Paris will have so little success in the return match. By doing a better part in the content, the Rouge et Bleu will also have better opportunities. Paris without a goal in C1? A first this season. We cannot imagine Borussia repeating the performance.

No outpouring of joy, even less excitement on Wednesday evening in the corridors of Signal Iduna Park when Edin Terzic appeared before the media for the post-match press conference. The BVB technician, of course happy with his team's success in a stadium with a fabulous atmosphere, did not fall into the trap of overconfidence. He knows too well what awaits his team on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. “It will be another story, we saw it clearly in the group stage in Paris (2-0 defeat on September 19), it is not easy to play at home,” he explains. We are not afraid, we fear nothing, but we respect everything. We know the quality of Paris, we know that next week the PSG players will arrive with great euphoria, they want to reverse this result. » Already winners in Milan (1-3) and Newcastle (0-1) during the first round or even on Bayern's pitch at the end of March (0-2) in the Bundesliga, the BVB has arguments to make. But if Paris has a little more efficiency in front of its public, Borussia risks suffering. Greatly.

Do not see in this any unwelcome feeling of superiority or excess of confidence, but a simple factual element. When it was necessary to accelerate or put pressure on the BVB goal on Wednesday in the second half, PSG had the opportunities to reduce the score. Two posts, clear actions in a mess with Dembélé, Ruiz and even Zaire-Emery. Borussia could also have increased the score without Donnarumma's saves, but the impression left confirms those broadcast by many observers before the match. Individually, Paris remains superior to its opponent. This is not the assurance of qualification, we grant you that and the C1 or the major international competitions abound with counter-examples. But if the Parisian leaders (Mbappé, Dembélé, Vitinha, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Mendes, Donnarumma…) are at their best next Tuesday, it is difficult to imagine Borussia resisting.

Certainly, PSG has not necessarily always been sovereign at the Parc des Princes since the start of the season. In the league or in C1, Lorient (0-0), Nice (2-3), Newcastle (1-1), Brest (2-2), Rennes (1-1), Reims (2-2), Barcelona ( 2-3) and Le Havre (3-3) deprived the Rouge et Bleu of victory in front of their home crowd. Without a penalty as generous as it was late against the Magpies, we could also add one more defeat to the Parisian counter. A defeat which would have greatly complicated the task of the Parisians in view of the 8th… Marquinhos nevertheless wants to be confident: “We know our strength in Paris”, insists the captain of the capital club. In this case, the 12th man effect was in full swing for Dortmund, pushed by an incandescent Signal Iduna Park. The atmosphere is often strong there. She was exceptional last Wednesday. “It’s always difficult to play there. There are incredible supporters. Ours too... Next Tuesday, at the Parc des Princes, they will certainly be incredible. For us, it is important to always have them with us,” underlines Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Park will be on fire, there is no doubt about it.