Paris (AFP)

Paris SG, lacking in realism, was held in check by Bordeaux (2-2) on Saturday in L1, before going to challenge Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday.

If he was not completely reassured, the leader of the Championship did not deplore any injuries.

Spared frames, avoided injuries ... PSG saved the essentials, to approach the European Cup with the best possible team.

For the rest, you have to iron.

Four days after his deleted copy against RB Leipzig despite the victory (1-0), the capital club has not raised all the questions.

From an accounting point of view, Paris, which has taken only one point out of the last six possible, remains leader, but Lille has the opportunity to come back to equality in case of success at Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

Worse, Marseille can take the lead if it wins its two late matches.

Admittedly, in this period, Paris has rather the spirit turned towards the C1, before two "finals" which should allow it to qualify for the 8th, under penalty of knowing an elimination in the form of industrial accident.

But against Bordeaux, he did not show the face of a team ready to conquer European summits.

PSG still had a difficult second period, after that experienced in Monaco last week, where ASM went from 0-2 to 3-2.

- Decisive Rico -

The Parisians this time avoided the humiliation of a defeat at home, while the Girondins, returned to 2-2 thanks to Yacine Adli (60th), had the opportunities to succeed in the hold-up (57th, 68th, 71st , 86th, 89th).

The usual understudy Sergio Rico won a decisive duel against Nicolas de Préville (86th) which will inevitably leave Bordeaux with regrets.

The other negative point concerns the lack of realism of an attack which, however, found breath with the return of Marco Verratti, holder in the middle for the first time since the beginning of October.

The activity of the "Little Owl", as expected, offered spaces to Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

If the Brazilian scored on a penalty that he himself caused (27th), the French chained the blunders, showing some signs of annoyance.

"Kyky", one goal from his 100th achievement in Blue and Red, found either goalkeeper Benoît Costil (34th, 55th) or the post (35th).

When he thought he was deceiving his misfortune, by scoring with a heel (48th), the referee signaled it out of play.

At the end of the match, he shot over (84th).

In a series of eight scoreless matches in the Champions League, the young world champion was expected against Bordeaux to regain confidence.

Like its center-forward, Paris did not have the necessary fuel.

Presnel Kimpembe, in particular, missed his header which led to the Bordeaux opening corner kick ... on a csc from Timothée Pembele (10th), who was playing his very first pro game.

- 50th for Neymar -

The Parisian players left the lawn directly after the final whistle, proof of an evening that was not ideal.

But Neymar was good, being at the origin of the minute that reversed the fate of the match in the first period.

After converting a penalty (27th), his shot rejected by Costil ended in the feet of Moise Kean who sealed the 2-1 (28th).

The "Ney" became the Parisian player to have reached the symbolic bar of 50 goals earlier, in 58 matches, one less than Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Coach Thomas Tuchel was also able to rest his executives Marquinhos and Keylor Navas, as well as Angel Di Maria on the bench for an hour.

The return to the field of Mauro Icardi, who had not played since early October, also saw the "Fantastic Four" on the pitch in the final ten minutes.

Now is the time to shine for the Parisian superheroes, much anticipated in Manchester.

© 2020 AFP