**Donnarumma:** The new dad decided to play, and he had a tranquil game for the most part, Brest testing him on only two occasions. The first occasion was a penalty in which he dove the wrong way, the second occasion being a powerful strike from Camara, where he managed a clean save. For the rest of him game, a few passes to note.
**Hakimi:** This evening’s captain was in full form after the international break, and he took advantage of it by running back and forth down his right flank. His permanent offensive presence and his ability to combine with Dembélé caused Brest a lot of trouble. It was logical for this pair to be involved in the creation of the second goal scored by Ruiz after a good pass from Hakimi. The Moroccan also provided some very interesting crosses before the goal, a sign of a convincing offensive performance and his permanent presence going forward. Defensively, he did his job well, with a hard challenge before the break.
**Skriniar:** After two full games with his national team, the Slovak was handed his first start of the season with Paris, against a slow Ajorque which suited him well, and he performed convincingly. Rarely caught unaware, capable of winning important duels like the one against Sima just before the opening goal, full of combative energy, the right-footer even added some well-timed passes forward to Hakimi and Barcola to his convincing defensive performance, something he should do more often to change the hierarchy. A very good game for a backup.
**Beraldo:** The young Brazilian experienced a frustrating first half, with little to do but a few mistakes that cost him dearly like the yellow card received after his first foul. Physically dominated by Ajorque, he took some time to take good measure of his opponent, and as usual, managed to improve in the second half and let his malice do the talking defensively while providing quality passes to move the game forward. Similarly to Lille, an incomplete match, with a mediocre start that must be corrected.
**Nuno Mendes:** The Portuguese had more freedom to attack than usual, he knew how to exploit it: a big occasion from the get-go, two passes that could have been assists for Ruiz and especially Asensio after an impressive drive with the ball. Offensively, Mendes has a good game, even if he showed less of himself after the break. But it’s defensively that he was disappointing, with a penalty stupidly conceded, and a few moments of inattention against Del Castillo.
**Pacho** replaced him as left-back, a first for him in Paris. He completely locked down his territory defensively but was less at ease when he had to accelerate towards the opposite goal.
sept_sept on
**Midfield**
**Fabian Ruiz:** Sentinel with a lot of freedom to roam the Parisian midfield since he was regularly found outside the opposition box, the Spaniard took a little time to have a real impact on the game. A lot of attempts without success, followed by a stroke of genius in the second half to score the winning goal for his team from a magnificent strike. His first start of the season with PSG was progressive, as much in the build-up as in his defensive efficacy, with too few counters stopped in the first half before making up for it in the second.
**Lee:** For the first time this season, Luis Enrique aligned him in midfield, deeper into the heart of game than usual, and the South Korean was generally excellent in the small spaces. Despite the pressure and the opposition numbers, he lost very few possessions thanks to an excellent ball protection whereas his capacity to combine in quick touches was very visible. Despite that, his match wasn’t entirely consistent, and he sometimes disappeared during the game. More troublesome, he lost in efficacy and in accuracy when approaching the opponent’s goal, having difficulties in creating space.
**Neves:** The young Portuguese continued in this box-to-box role on the left and his adaptation to his new teammates, Ruiz and Lee, was glaring. The player’s generosity is undeniable, and his general activity proves it, along with his permanent pressing, but Neves really struggled to have a real impact on the game with a few exceptions: an interesting shot inside the box, an excellent defensive challenge, and an excellent press at the start of the third goal. Yet despite a second half more convincing than the first, he seemed a little too all over the place when his team had the ball.
**Mayulu** replaced him at the end of the game, he showed a good amount of energy but was lacking in technique, especially in controlling the ball, which cost him dearly once again.
sept_sept on
**Attack**
**Dembélé:** From the first minutes of the game, the Frenchman showed that he was having a great evening by being absolutely unstoppable on his wing. Each touches with the ball created panic for his opponents, and his drives continuously hurt a Brest defense that did not how to contain him. Of course, Dembélé was sometimes too ambitious, both in his dribbling and his shooting, but he managed to make a difference. With two goals, including an equalizer from a header at an important time, and an important role in the last Parisian goal, Dembélé was able to combine efficacy to a constant involvement in the build-up and in his duels. A great game.
**Mbaye** replaced him at the end of the game and the young winger still struggled to get into rhythm, this time on the right side.
**Asensio:** Once again positioned as a false nine, the Spaniard had a very particular performance since he hovered between some very good things when involved in the build-up, like his beautiful assist for Dembélé, and a lot of technical errors inside the box when it came time to finish. Two missed occasions against Bizot, a goal refused for offside where the fault is shared with Neves who took too long to find him, Asensio was paradoxically very good when he was further from the opposing goal.
**Kolo Muani** replaced him and he brought an interesting presence at the center of the attack, and very much needed at that moment of the game. He did not score, even if he provided good movement at the start of the third goal, but the forward seems to be going in the right direction after his interesting entrance against Lille.
**Barcola:** After an international break that saw him change status with France, the return to reality was sobering, very much so, since Barcola signed his poorest performance in months. Lacking technically, physically not there, author of some poor decisions with the ball, he completely missed out in the first half hour and struggled to improve. Even his defensive activity was poorer than usual, despite his role played in the equalizer. A game to be forgotten.
**Doué** replaced him in the same position, and the left winger had a very contrasted game, with some technical errors with the ball and the desire to make a difference by himself that played against him. Despite that, it’s also him who delivers a perfect pass to Kolo Muani on the third Parisian goal. His integration continues as expected.
3 Comments
**Defense**
**Donnarumma:** The new dad decided to play, and he had a tranquil game for the most part, Brest testing him on only two occasions. The first occasion was a penalty in which he dove the wrong way, the second occasion being a powerful strike from Camara, where he managed a clean save. For the rest of him game, a few passes to note.
**Hakimi:** This evening’s captain was in full form after the international break, and he took advantage of it by running back and forth down his right flank. His permanent offensive presence and his ability to combine with Dembélé caused Brest a lot of trouble. It was logical for this pair to be involved in the creation of the second goal scored by Ruiz after a good pass from Hakimi. The Moroccan also provided some very interesting crosses before the goal, a sign of a convincing offensive performance and his permanent presence going forward. Defensively, he did his job well, with a hard challenge before the break.
**Skriniar:** After two full games with his national team, the Slovak was handed his first start of the season with Paris, against a slow Ajorque which suited him well, and he performed convincingly. Rarely caught unaware, capable of winning important duels like the one against Sima just before the opening goal, full of combative energy, the right-footer even added some well-timed passes forward to Hakimi and Barcola to his convincing defensive performance, something he should do more often to change the hierarchy. A very good game for a backup.
**Beraldo:** The young Brazilian experienced a frustrating first half, with little to do but a few mistakes that cost him dearly like the yellow card received after his first foul. Physically dominated by Ajorque, he took some time to take good measure of his opponent, and as usual, managed to improve in the second half and let his malice do the talking defensively while providing quality passes to move the game forward. Similarly to Lille, an incomplete match, with a mediocre start that must be corrected.
**Nuno Mendes:** The Portuguese had more freedom to attack than usual, he knew how to exploit it: a big occasion from the get-go, two passes that could have been assists for Ruiz and especially Asensio after an impressive drive with the ball. Offensively, Mendes has a good game, even if he showed less of himself after the break. But it’s defensively that he was disappointing, with a penalty stupidly conceded, and a few moments of inattention against Del Castillo.
**Pacho** replaced him as left-back, a first for him in Paris. He completely locked down his territory defensively but was less at ease when he had to accelerate towards the opposite goal.
**Midfield**
**Fabian Ruiz:** Sentinel with a lot of freedom to roam the Parisian midfield since he was regularly found outside the opposition box, the Spaniard took a little time to have a real impact on the game. A lot of attempts without success, followed by a stroke of genius in the second half to score the winning goal for his team from a magnificent strike. His first start of the season with PSG was progressive, as much in the build-up as in his defensive efficacy, with too few counters stopped in the first half before making up for it in the second.
**Lee:** For the first time this season, Luis Enrique aligned him in midfield, deeper into the heart of game than usual, and the South Korean was generally excellent in the small spaces. Despite the pressure and the opposition numbers, he lost very few possessions thanks to an excellent ball protection whereas his capacity to combine in quick touches was very visible. Despite that, his match wasn’t entirely consistent, and he sometimes disappeared during the game. More troublesome, he lost in efficacy and in accuracy when approaching the opponent’s goal, having difficulties in creating space.
**Neves:** The young Portuguese continued in this box-to-box role on the left and his adaptation to his new teammates, Ruiz and Lee, was glaring. The player’s generosity is undeniable, and his general activity proves it, along with his permanent pressing, but Neves really struggled to have a real impact on the game with a few exceptions: an interesting shot inside the box, an excellent defensive challenge, and an excellent press at the start of the third goal. Yet despite a second half more convincing than the first, he seemed a little too all over the place when his team had the ball.
**Mayulu** replaced him at the end of the game, he showed a good amount of energy but was lacking in technique, especially in controlling the ball, which cost him dearly once again.
**Attack**
**Dembélé:** From the first minutes of the game, the Frenchman showed that he was having a great evening by being absolutely unstoppable on his wing. Each touches with the ball created panic for his opponents, and his drives continuously hurt a Brest defense that did not how to contain him. Of course, Dembélé was sometimes too ambitious, both in his dribbling and his shooting, but he managed to make a difference. With two goals, including an equalizer from a header at an important time, and an important role in the last Parisian goal, Dembélé was able to combine efficacy to a constant involvement in the build-up and in his duels. A great game.
**Mbaye** replaced him at the end of the game and the young winger still struggled to get into rhythm, this time on the right side.
**Asensio:** Once again positioned as a false nine, the Spaniard had a very particular performance since he hovered between some very good things when involved in the build-up, like his beautiful assist for Dembélé, and a lot of technical errors inside the box when it came time to finish. Two missed occasions against Bizot, a goal refused for offside where the fault is shared with Neves who took too long to find him, Asensio was paradoxically very good when he was further from the opposing goal.
**Kolo Muani** replaced him and he brought an interesting presence at the center of the attack, and very much needed at that moment of the game. He did not score, even if he provided good movement at the start of the third goal, but the forward seems to be going in the right direction after his interesting entrance against Lille.
**Barcola:** After an international break that saw him change status with France, the return to reality was sobering, very much so, since Barcola signed his poorest performance in months. Lacking technically, physically not there, author of some poor decisions with the ball, he completely missed out in the first half hour and struggled to improve. Even his defensive activity was poorer than usual, despite his role played in the equalizer. A game to be forgotten.
**Doué** replaced him in the same position, and the left winger had a very contrasted game, with some technical errors with the ball and the desire to make a difference by himself that played against him. Despite that, it’s also him who delivers a perfect pass to Kolo Muani on the third Parisian goal. His integration continues as expected.