On Wednesday, during Matchday 8 of the 2025-2026 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain faced Newcastle at the Parc des Princes. After a match where the Parisians underperformed, they drew 1-1. Here are our player ratings for the Parisians.
Goalkeeper –
Matvey Safonov (5) – Two slightly rushed throws, one save at the second attempt; he wasn’t always entirely reassuring. Could do little about Newcastle’s goal at the end of the first half. His aerial clearances were a bit shaky.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (5) – Not a great match from him, but he’s just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations; he needs to regain his rhythm and understanding with the game.
Marquinhos (6) – A fairly average performance overall. He struggled in duels against the English club’s tall players. He finished the match well, clearly seeing that his team was losing focus.
Willian Pacho (6) – He did what was necessary, but it wasn’t his best match in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt.
Nuno Mendes (6) – He’s got fire in his legs, but he didn’t always make the best decisions. A shame, because he really has the qualities to take on the opposition.
Midfielders –
Joao Neves (5.5) – A strong first half in terms of movement and commitment; he struggled more in the second half. That’s normal, he’s just coming back from injury.
Vitinha (6) – A goalscorer and playmaker, but he couldn’t compensate for his teammates’ shortcomings.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (6.5) – Probably one of PSG’s best players. He used his power effectively. Another very good match from him.
Forwards –
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Not Rated) – Replaced by Désiré Doué (2) in the 22nd minute following the Georgian’s injury. Doué struggled, making numerous poor decisions. He lacks that little something extra, likely a physical deficit preventing him from fully utilizing his abilities.
Ousmane Dembélé (4) – An off day for him, poor choices, a missed penalty. He tried too hard and couldn’t find the best solutions.
Bradley Barcola (6) – He makes a big difference, but he remains ineffective. It’s a real shame; he can do better. He was PSG’s best attacking player during the first hour of the game. Replaced by Gonçalo Ramos in the 70th minute.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (5) – From his starting lineup choices to his team’s somewhat disappointing performance, one can question what solutions he has to turn things around in this second half of the season. Above all, he must restore his team’s confidence.
