At the Parc des Princes,

Has the state of grace ended?

Blessed against Bayern in the previous round, Paris Saint-Germain was abandoned by the roadside by the stars in the middle of the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Pochettino's men lost 2-1 on Wednesday night and confirm a trend: things are complicated against the big guys at home.

The return to Manchester does not look easier.

Guardiola did not choke

Since he has often been criticized for tempting the devil with the approach of major deadlines, Pep Guardiola has lined up an almost classic composition at the Parc des Princes.

But the unconventional system without number 9 and the ballet of dezoning that accompanies it only very rarely allowed the English to come and infiltrate a block that was believed to be immune to major offensives thanks to the Bayern vaccine in the premiere. period.

There were indeed alerts (De Bruyne in the 38th and especially a gift from Foden for Navas in the 43rd), but in the absence of a point of fixation and presence in the Parisian area, City lacked what makes precisely the offensive force of PSG: improvisation.

It all started well

Ironically, it was on a most predictable streak that the inescapable Marquinhos came to seek on a corner the opening of the scoring in the 15th minute by diving to the near post on a perfect serve from Angel di Maria.

A colleague from Manchester told us last month how Guardiola had reconquered his group by releasing a little ballast on the video sessions sometimes considered boring by the players.

The Spanish coach now has a good reason to reinstate them, or in any case to pull the ears of the golgoths Dias and Stones, who considered it better to mark Verratti and his two and a half meters in the box rather than Marquinhos.

But Paris ended up collapsing

For the rest, Paris has accommodated leaving the ball to its opponent, although a little less than what was expected. The Verratti-Paredes-Gueye trio was particularly strong in the first hour, raking a large number of balls. The back padlocked, the midfield in good hands, Paris ended up, as often when one thinks of controlling Manchester City, by getting tired and then falling asleep. Short naps at the wheel that become fatal.

Each time, the crime is committed outside the surface.

First on a cross from De Bruyne (64th), then on a free kick from Riyad Mahrez (71st).

On at least one of the two, Keylor Navas is at fault.

A symbolic rarity, as if to signify that the wind had just turned.

And as misfortune never comes alone, the other fit man, Idrissa Gueye, abandoned his peers fifteen minutes from the end on a red card.

Hard return to earth.

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