This Tuesday, as part of the semi-finals of the Coupe de France 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain faced Dunkerque at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. After a match in which the Rouge et Bleu clearly didn’t play well, they nevertheless won 2-4 (video highlights Dunkerque/PSG). Here are our notes on the Parisians.
Goalkeeper –
Matvey Safonov (5) – No great feat for him, taking two goals in the first half, but he didn’t have much else to get his teeth into.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (6) – For a few weeks now, he hasn’t been the great Hakimi. Nevertheless, he’s a great provider and plays high up the pitch. He also runs a lot to link up defense and attack.
Marquinhos (6) – It’s a good thing he scored, as it made up for his complicated first half.
Lucas Beraldo (4) – Too soft in the first half, he sometimes makes complicated moves defensively. He can lack aggression. He needs to learn to concentrate and start games with better intentions.
Nuno Mendes (6) – His crosses were glaringly lacking in quality, but he contributes so much offensively that it’s difficult for the opposition.
Midfielders –
Joao Neves (6) – We’re far from his best game, but even more average, he fights like a lion. He’s doing the work in the shadows with great determination.
Vitinha (5) – Made some unusual technical errors. We expect better. His passing was probably too slow. He also needs to know how to adapt to grouped defences.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (4) – Didn’t show enough creativity in the first half. Played with a lack of personality. Too neutral in a match that demanded more. Replaced by Gonçalo Ramos at half-time.
Forwards –
Ousmane Dembélé (7) – He’s the one who got PSG back on track, although he missed quite a few situations, even if they were mostly long-range shots. He takes his role as leader to heart.
Désiré Doué (6) – A complicated first half, like the rest of the team, and in the end it was he who scored PSG’s third goal. He tried hard and was rewarded. Replaced by Willian Pacho at the end of the match.
Bradley Barcola (6) – Low defences are still too complicated for him. He lacks space and makes mistakes. Nevertheless, he defended very well and stepped up his game in the second half. Replaced in the 77th minute by Fabian Ruiz.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (6) – The return from international break took its toll on him. He saw his team suffer against Saint-Etienne, then against Dunkirk’s low block. However, his team still has the resources to come back and hurt us. But beware: the Champions League is a different level.
