With a view to providing our readers with even richer content, we’ve come up with the idea of launching a section featuring an analysis of the key actions in a match, whether in terms of goals scored or conceded, fine moves, near misses and the like. The aim is to determine how much of each action was a collective or individual success or error. Here’s the new number. This is a sequence from the 0-3 victory over Brest in the first leg of the Champions League 2024-2025 play-off (return on Wednesday, February 19). This is the build-up to Ousmane Dembélé’s (27-year-old striker) 1st goal, and therefore Paris’ 2nd.
The situation after Fabian Ruiz’s pass, who recovered the ball.
Fabian Ruiz covered Nuno Mendes and threw the ball along the length of the league at the Portuguese. We can now see the famous occupation of space desired by coach Luis Enrique, with players well distributed, without stepping on each other or leaving too much distance.
Mendes was able to pass to João Neves, who played a one-touch pass to Bradley Barcola. In the meantime, the Parisian full-back hadn’t dawdled and launched himself forward, while Barcola was able to play back to him. Mendes then shifted again to Neves as he was pressed.
The Brest side seemed to be overwhelmed by both their technical quality and the energy they were still displaying at the end of the half. While PSG were putting a lot of intensity into their play, Brest were struggling to get back into the game.
The situation after the left-hand exit.
Neves projects himself into the middle, but could perhaps have played forward to Désiré Doué or Ousmane Dembélé. It’s almost a pity that Doué and Vitinha are so close together. But these are also 2 clear options for Neves and a choice to be made by the Brest man.
He hesitates for a while, then goes for Doué, so Neves is “at ease” to direct the game. He even dispenses with Vitinha and plays directly to the other side. PSG are fully out of the pressing game. Nuno Mendes and Barcola throw themselves forward to accompany.
The situation when Ousmane Dembélé receives the ball.
Hakimi and Dembélé have plenty of room, and the former passes to the latter who continues his run to create more space. Crucially, Doué took up the middle to keep the defence busy, while Nuno Mendes and Barcola came in from the left, inevitably also stretching out without being able to fully tighten up on Dembélé.
The situation when Dembélé takes to the dribble.
With Dembélé poking towards the centre, the defender had to choose quickly, and it’s fair to say that he wasn’t very well placed. At least, not in a position to prevent a shot, despite the striker’s skill in this area of late (as he has proved here).
Except that he’s also hampered by the rise of Hakimi, to whom he can’t give a lead in the box. It also seems quite clear that his team-mate should have been closer. He’s hampered by Doué, of course, but the latter has stopped and it makes sense to defend first against a shot close to goal. But it’s also part of that great Parisian presence in the box and the fatigue inflicted by the Parisian style.
Brest struggled to come back against this pressing, after a period of domination which may have cost them energy, while the Parisians never let go of their philosophy despite the difficulties.
