Dijon (AFP)
Mission "revenge" succeeded without the help of the holders, left to rest in anticipation of the Champions League: PSG, despite the absence of many injured or simply preserved executives, managed to dominate Dijon (6-1) to join the semi-finals of the Coupe de France on Wednesday.
Faced with a Dijon formation which long believed it could repeat the feat of November 1 last in the league (2-1 victory), the teammates of Kylian Mbappé, only one of the "Fantastic Four" to have been aligned, ensured the essentials for continue to claim the national "Grand Slam".
After the equalization of Mounir Chouiar (13th), in the wake of the goal against his side of his teammate Wesley Lautoa (2nd), Mbappé gave the advantage to PSG (44th). Thiago Silva (49th) or Pablo Sarabia (56th, 90 + 1) weighed down the brand in the second half to give more depth to Parisian success.
Because it was, only in the first half, a complicated match! Less than a week before the Champions League 8th final in Dortmund, coach Thomas Tuchel took advantage of this match to blow his injured Neymar, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Verratti, or Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi, left on the bench.
But in a very revamped team, only the young Tanguy Kouassi (17 years old) and Mitchel Bakker (19 years old) were generally up to the task, unlike Julian Draxler or Ander Herrera, suffering.
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On the first opportunity in Paris, it was also the unexpected Dutch side that prompted Lautoa to score against his own camp after a powerful center in front of goal (1-0, 2nd). A short-term advantage.
In the process, Dijon managed to equalize thanks to an unstoppable roll of Chouiar at the entrance of the surface which left Navas no chance (1-1, 13th).
What motivate a Gaston-Gérard stadium filled and flattered to attend the first tenure of Edinson Cavani in over a month.
Three days after entering the winning game against Lyon, the "Matador" was very hungry, like the energy deployed to recover a ball in his court. An unlimited investment that should have paid off from the 20th minute.
On a center by Thomas Meunier, "Edi", well placed in the area, thought he had given the advantage to his team by taking a perfect volley. But after examining the video assistance (VAR), the goal was finally canceled due to a hand from the Belgian side at the start of the action ...
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Put in difficulty by the elusive Chouiar and Mama Baldé, the Parisian collective has long been suffering. And on a loss of ball from Thiago Silva in his camp, Dijon missed an unexpected chance!
Cadiz, on the lookout for the error of the Brazilian, rushed alone to the goal without succeeding in concluding when facing Navas, because of a too crossed strike (41st).
A golden opportunity sanctioned in the process by Mbappé. Launched behind the opposing defense by an uncontrolled tackle from Amalfitano on Draxler, the French international did not tremble to restore the advantage to his team just before half-time (2-1, 44th). Dijon will never recover.
On returning from the locker room, Tuchel changed his device to 3-4-3 with an offensive trident Sarabia-Cavani-Mbappé to give his team more control. Immediate success, like this shot from Cavani diverted to a corner, which led to the goal of Thiago Silva (3-1, 50th).
From there, the Dijon have mentally dropped, leaving their opponent to weigh down the mark: after a strike from Mbappé released by Runarsson, Sarabia took the opportunity to conclude (4-1, 56th) before offering the double at the end of match (6-1, 90 + 1) a few minutes after the goal against Coulibaly's camp (5-1, 85th).
Next step in Amiens, Saturday in the championship. With Neymar and the rest of the executives? "We will discuss and decide on Friday as late as possible. We cannot risk our health," said Thomas Tuchel after the match.
Worried about the Brazilian star's presence in Dortmund? "I cannot say 100% that he will be able to play, even if the risk will decrease every day," he added. A new soap opera is launched.
© 2020 AFP