Paris (AFP)

Efficient and carried by Mauro Icardi's hat-trick, Paris SG inflicted a correction on Angers to reach the semi-finals of the Coupe de France (5-0) on Wednesday, offering a reassuring offensive festival one week before the Champions League.

PSG undoubtedly have a little more head to another semi-final, the one that awaits Wednesday April 28 against Manchester City, but the defending champion of the Coupe de France did the job with seven days of this first shock. of the queen competition.

Mauricio Pochettino's men, winners thanks to a hat-trick from Mauro Icardi (9th, 68th, 90th), a goal from Neymar (65th) and a goal against his camp from Vincent Manceau (23rd), remain in contention for titles on all tables (Championship and Cups) and avoid additional physical glitches.

They did not need their man in form, Kylian Mbappé, to be effective: the Frenchman was preserved, like many holders including Presnel Kimpembe, but the Parisian offensive armada is deep enough to ensure the easy victories, especially when Icardi is clinical like Wednesday.

- Headscarf hit for Di Maria -

From the 9th minute, the Argentine was able to stand out behind the defense to align Ludovic Butelle after a nice exchange between Neymar and Julian Draxler.

Then Neymar had the success of seeing his shot be doubly countered by Butelle and Vincent Manceau and finish in the back of the net, on a convincing tumble from Colin Dagba (23rd).

And the Brazilian then concluded a nice move from Mitchell Bakker to get there from his own goal.

Last man in the offensive quartet, Angel Di Maria has particularly shone on an action, by offering a caviar to Icardi with a spectacular blow from the scarf on the 4th Parisian goal (68th).

The same Icardi closed the discussions with a good recovery (90th).

It took a few exploits like these on Wednesday night to make people forget an often trembling Parisian defense against the Angevin assaults, worthy of the SCO epic in 2017, ended with a final lost against ... Paris (1-0).

Between a duel missed by Jimmy Cabot against Sergio Rico (17th), an improbable defensive oversight on Stéphane Bahoken, also stopped by Rico (32nd), an overpowered volley from Manceau next door (44th) and above all a spectacular parade from the goalkeeper on Farid El Melali (80th), the bill could have been much less salty.

- Message from the fans -

Something to remind PSG that it will need its cadors at the central hinge, Marquinhos (injured) and Kimpembe (preserved), to give themselves more security against City in C1.

What to prove, if necessary, that the "big ones" of the French Championship are not immune even against the smallest in this competition, a reality that the aborted Super League project, which Paris did not want , has tried to jostle in recent days.

Far from the Parc des Princes due to the pandemic, Parisian supporters are moreover responsible for reminding them, through a message visible on a large banner displayed in the stands which hammered: "Popular football: property of the supporters."

In front of their TV, the supporters were in any case able to see a little more minutes of play for Neymar, he who had missed the last two Ligue 1 matches for a suspension.

The Brazilian, captain of the evening, is ramping up before the C1.

And in the longer term, he will be able to look towards the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, scheduled for May 11 and 12.

The draw scheduled for Sunday can reserve any kind of opponent for PSG: either a big name from L1 (Lyon or Monaco, who face each other on Wednesday evening), or a less prestigious elite team (Montpellier), or a Totally unexpected Petit Poucet: Rumilly-Vallières, resident of National 2 (D4).

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