This Tuesday, in the first leg of the Champions League 2024-2025 semi-final (return on May 7), Paris Saint-Germain faced Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. After a match in which the Rouge et Bleu enjoyed a fine first half before suffering the rest of the match, they won 0-1). Here are our grades on the Parisians.
Goalkeeper –
Gianluigi Donnarumma (9) – Great saves, he showed he can be that last line of defence. Great game from him.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (7) – Very active, even if some dangerous situations came his way. He fought hard in this match and showed character.
Marquinhos (6) – Didn’t convey much serenity on the pitch, but made no major mistakes.
Willian Pacho (6.5) – As solid as ever in his position. He validated all the good things we’ve seen this season. A good game from him.
Nuno Mendes (5) – Gave away too many balls at Arsenal. He was far from his best against Liverpool. He needs to correct that, because PSG suffered and he also needs to play more simply, taking fewer risks.
Midfielders –
Fabian Ruiz (6.5) – A great first half, lots of ball recovery, then he was less in evidence as his team suffered more.
Vitinha (7) – Perhaps less noticeable than usual, but he was good with the ball, slowing the tempo when Arsenal began to dominate the game. He can sometimes play faster, but he also had to deal with a fine team in front, who put in a lot of intensity once they were ahead.
Joao Neves (6) – Some very good, some not so good. You can see his youth at times, and it’s certain that he’ll have to become more consistent for the rest of his career. Replaced by Warren Zaïre-Emery in the 89th minute.
Forwards –
Ousmane Dembélé (7) – A lot of effort, a quick goal, he played his game, he fought and we expected him to be decisive in a great match, and he was. He goes off injured. Replaced by Bradley Barcola in the 71st minute.
Désiré Doué (4) – Some real flashes of brilliance that showed off his great talent, but on this occasion it didn’t put his team on the right track. He needs to play more simply when the game demands it. Replaced by Gonçalo Ramos in the 76th minute.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (6.5) – A lot of energy. Always running, always fighting. Not very successful personally, he did the team a world of good.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (7) – There’s no denying that his PSG have lost some of their spark at the end of the season. Physically, they’re in a bit of a slump, and maybe that first phase of the Champions League, where they had to work hard, cost them too much. Be that as it may, the team is fighting and giving nothing away, just like them, and it’s worth repeating: this is a Champions League semi-final, it’s the very highest level. These are matches you have to win to keep growing.
