A native of Val-d'Oise, Riyad Mahrez sank PSG with a surgical free kick, his favorite exercise, which propelled Manchester City to the gates of the Champions League final (1-2), Wednesday during the semi-final to go.
When the Algerian international scores a free kick in a final phase, it is generally a good omen for his team, as during a brilliant shot of which he has the secret, executed in added time against Nigeria (2- 1), had qualified the Fennecs in the CAN final in 2019.
The following ?
A historic title, against Senegal (0-1), which gave him the status of national hero, in the eyes of an Algeria who had been waiting for this trophy since 1990.
With the "Sky Blues", the 30-year-old right-winger wrote a new chapter in his legend, in a semi-final.
About thirty meters from the cages of Keylor Navas, full axis, Mahrez did it again (71st), with a subtle strike that slipped between Leandro Paredes and Presnel Kimpembe, lax in the Parisian wall.
90mn left ... ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/073cfkcVVQ
- Riyad Mahrez (@ Mahrez22) April 28, 2021
He screamed his joy as he walked towards the Mancunian bench, the same celebration he performed in July 2019 at the Cairo International Stadium.
Now, he has to write the same conclusion, but first, we must manage the return match next Tuesday, which the "Sky Blues" approach in an ideal situation.
"The most important thing in these matches is to be solid. Everything remains open, we will have to do what is necessary", explained the player at the microphone of RMC Sport.
Disappointment against Lyon
Fennec shone in his right lane, where his technique made a bad evening for Mitchel Bakker, the Parisian defender.
He could even, twice, increase the gap (77th, 83rd).
"He played very well, as he has been doing in recent months. He was very aggressive in the first half. He is someone who does not feel the pressure at the highest level," complimented his coach Pep Guardiola. .
The story is good for the native of Sarcelles (Val-d'Oise), about twenty kilometers from the capital, who made his way into the professional world without going through the prestigious PSG training center.
"I never imagined these things. It's special to come back to where I grew up. I have never played at the Parc des Princes," he said on Tuesday.
Passed by Quimper, then by Le Havre in Ligue 2, this OM fan takes on an international dimension with Leicester, where he won to everyone's surprise the Premier League in 2016, being named best player in the championship.
His upward career took him to Manchester City in 2018, where it is Europe he hopes to put at his feet.
But in C1, he knows two eliminations like a heartbreak, each time in quarter, against Tottenham and against Lyon.
"It was a big disappointment last season, the biggest disappointment of my career, against Lyon. It has helped us a lot for this season. We are better," he explained.
This season, he achieves, with 9 goals in the Premier League, statistics close to that of the previous year (11).
But the quarterfinal qualification against Dortmund, with a goal from the Algerian on the return (won 2-1), makes this season special.
Already winner of the League Cup, City are also close to pocketing the championship, pending a possible Champions League final.
In any case, Mahrez has already sharpened his weapon.
With AFP
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