On Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain lost 3–0 to Mallorca in a friendly match at the San Moix Stadium. Here are our key takeaways from the defeat, in no particular order.
Axel Koukaba: the standout performer.
Mind you, he was far from perfect. However, considering the defender is only 16 and was playing his first professional match, it was an impressive performance. He showed authority in duels and wasn’t afraid with the ball at his feet. There is still some fine-tuning needed, of course, but it is very encouraging.
Dro Fernandez: a busy display.
The 18-year-old midfielder covered a lot of ground, showing a real desire to prove himself and step up his game. He also produced some technically excellent moments. However, there were times he defended haphazardly—chasing shadows—within a PSG side lacking coordination and energy.
David Boly: raw energy needing refinement.
Impressive in his liveliness and movement, David Boly isn’t afraid to play. However—as is only natural at 17—he still needs to improve his decision-making, positioning, and technical finesse.
Lucas Beraldo: the composed midfielder.
Long a defender, Lucas Beraldo now plays more in midfield for PSG. He displays impressive composure on the ball there, along with great precision. He still needs to make more of a defensive impact, though he is already winning the ball back effectively.
Ibrahim Mbaye: starter, creative but erratic.
The 18-year-old forward displayed his usual, slightly frustrating mix of qualities. His potential and ability to create danger are clear, but he needs to cut out the sloppiness in his decision-making and execution. It is also worth noting that he played a significant amount of time, despite being tipped for a departure. A blow to the hype surrounding Ilya Zabarnyi.
Training photos showing the 23-year-old defender looking sharp had raised hopes that he would make his mark this season. However, the very avoidable turnover that led to the second goal has somewhat dampened that momentum—though, of course, one shouldn’t judge a player or a season based on a single moment in a friendly match.
Senny Mayulu starts as captain.
There was a question mark regarding the captaincy for this heavily rotated squad: who would wear the armband? Senny Mayulu, a 20-year-old midfielder/forward, was given the honor. It is a significant moment for the Parisian academy graduate.
Quentin Ndjantou returns to action.
The 19-year-old midfielder/forward didn’t exactly shine, which is understandable given it was his first match since his injury in December. The good news is that he managed to play 61 minutes.
No standout performances from goalkeepers amidst transfer rumors.
While there has been frequent talk in recent days of a move to PSG for Zion Suzuki (23, Parma and Japan), neither Matvey Safonov (27) nor Lucas Chevalier (24) boosted their stock tonight—though neither committed any blunders, either.
