Paris Saint-Germain defeated Flamengo on penalties (1-1, then 3-1) this Wednesday in Doha in the final of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup. Matvey Safonov, the 26-year-old goalkeeper, impressed by saving four of the opposition’s penalties during the shootout. This was achieved with invaluable assistance from the Parisian staff: instructions added to his towel.
We’ve seen several instances of bottles with attached sheets of paper, which are sometimes discreetly thrown by the opposing team during the penalty shootout to avoid a last-minute review. PSG used a towel, seemingly innocuous, which allowed the goalkeeper to prepare himself optimally for the shootout.
This was especially true with the instructions from the staff. A great deal of work went into the preparation, as it’s not clearly visible in the video, but each player’s preferred shooting zone was clearly indicated. This is yet another reminder that penalty shootouts are not simply a matter of luck, far from it. Especially at the highest level, where studying the opponent is possible.
