PSG narrowly avoided a defeat against Newcastle on Tuesday at home (1-1). The Magpies played the move perfectly, realizing one of their rare offensive situations and remaining impervious defensively. But Mbappé allowed the Parisians to come back to the score with a penalty at the very end of the match. Paris is still in the race for qualification in the round of 16.
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PSG sees its chances of qualifying for the round of 16 of the Champions League still intact, Tuesday November 28, after its draw against Newcastle (0-1) at the Parc des Princes.
The Parisians and the Magpies both play in a 4-3-3 formation at the start of the match. It is PSG which enters this meeting best from the first minutes, putting pressure on the Newcastle defense as with this overflow from Mbappé (1st) or that of Dembélé (3rd). But Newcastle are well in place, disciplined in their own half. PSG laid siege to the opposing area at the start of the match, and their pressure did not weaken.
The capital club is even very close to opening the score: Dembélé and Hakimi combine on the right, the Moroccan player overflows and crosses on the ground towards Mbappé, who takes back with a backheel… but Pope pushes back at point blank range (9th ). Newcastle also shows that it can create danger despite the clear domination of Paris. On a low restart, Hakimi loses the ball near his area and Almiron quickly serves Isak, whose flat foot narrowly escapes the frame of Donnarumma (12th).
The match gradually rebalanced when Newcastle got their foot back on the ball. The pace is less lively, even if the Magpies try some nice passing sequences without it coming to fruition… until Livramento reviews the entire Parisian defense with his dribbles before shifting Almiron who rolls in a shot. Donnarumma, not exempt from any reproaches, pushes the ball back into the axis, and Isak finishes the action with an unstoppable flat foot in the Parisian area (24th, 0-1).
At the half-hour mark, this scenario does not help the Parisians who are provisionally 3rd in their “group of death”. PSG tries to react but often lacks precision in the final gestures. He still offers himself an opportunity when Dembélé overtakes the Magpies defense and hits low at the end of the race. But Pope pushes away this vicious ball with the tip of his glove (32nd). Apart from this action, Paris fails to react since Newcastle’s goal.
It is quite logical that the Parisians return to the locker room trailing by the score. The Magpies, well in place, knew how to seize their chance when it presented itself and remained impervious defensively.
Pope disgusts Barcola at point blank range, Mbappé gives Paris a point
In the first minutes of the second half, PSG did not seem to make any more difference with the ball than in the first half and Newcastle remained well in place. The start of the second act is a festival of Parisian inaccuracies, and PSG lacks rhythm in its transmissions.
Paris finally finds an opening: Dembélé, served by Kolo Muani, finds himself alone against Pope but the Magpies goalkeeper quickly comes out of his cage to repel the Parisian striker’s dived ball (56th). Apart from this occasion, Paris shines more by its frustration than by its actions, like Lee, Dembélé and Skriniar warned in a few minutes (54th, 58th and 60th). Luis Enrique decides to inject fresh blood into the field by bringing in Barcola and Vitinha (62nd).
The young Parisian striker does not take long to shine: Mbappé enters the Newcastle area and serves Barcola behind a few meters from the opposing goal. He strikes, but the Magpies goalkeeper makes a classy reflex save at close range (66th). In the process, Barcola is once again served in depth by Mbappé. He appears off-center and fails to get his shot on target (67th). PSG cannot find the fault and gets frustrated, contesting refereeing decisions which mean that Donnarumma is also warned (72nd).
Opposite, Newcastle suffers but does not break. The Magpies manage their lead even if it is PSG who controls the ball during this second act. And history repeats itself: Paris lays siege to Newcastle’s defense but cannot find the fault, as in an ultimately vain strike from Hakimi (79th). On a rare Parisian foray, Hernandez overflows and crosses for Dembélé who tackles at the near post. But it doesn’t fit (82nd).
A few minutes later, Mbappé almost scored with a double shot. The first is first repelled by Pope, then the second narrowly escapes the Newcastle frame (87th). Likewise, Barcola is well served at the far post but misses his half-volley a few meters from the opponent’s cage (90th + 1). Nothing helps, Paris is unable to equalize… But at the end of added time, a penalty is awarded to the Parisians after a handball from an opposing defender. Mbappé transforms the set piece (90th + 8, 1-1). PSG saved a precious point at the last second, which allows them to still have every chance of qualifying in the last match, in Dortmund. Paris can even still finish at the top of Group F, as it can also be eliminated…