Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 11-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Old Trafford as two second-half goals earned Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash on Tuesday night.
The hosts ended the match with 10 men as Paul Pogba picked up a second booking in the final moments of the encounter, ruling him out of the return fixture in Paris in three weeks’ time.
It was his compatriots instead who stole the headlines and got the job done for the Ligue 1 champions. Former United man Angel Di Maria whipped in a corner eight minutes into the second period for an unmarked Presnel Kimpembe – lucky to still be on the pitch after a series of questionable challenges – to score from point-blank range.
The Red Devils were then hit on the counter-attack seven minutes later with Di Maria again sliding a ball across goal for the pacey Kylian Mbappe to slot away, ensuring that absences of illustrious team-mates Neymar and Edinson Cavani were not felt.
Here, we grade the performances of both sides in our report card.
THE GOOD
PSG – Slowing it down
Old Trafford has been an intimidating arena to visit of late. Solskjaer’s reign had lifted United, the team’s confidence was soaring and it showed early on as the hosts pressed high the pitch and tried to get at PSG. To the away side’s credit though, they held their nerve remarkably well and Marquinhos was essential to that.
He sat deep without the ball, picking up Pogba’s runs and keeping the Frenchman relatively quiet, even dropping in alongside the centre-backs when United got the ball wide. In possession, he was composed and patient. The Parisians had a game plan and executed it with precision. They did well to take the sting out of the game and subdue an expectant home support.
THE BAD
United – Marking
PSG didn’t often stretch United before the second goal but when they did on a couple of occasions in the first half, the alarm bells were certainly ringing. There was a suspicion of offside when Mbappe was sent clean through but the Frenchman fired wide as the linesman remained unmoved. Di Maria then got in behind but the flag was raised that time.
In both scenarios, United’s defence were lackadaisical with their tracking of forward runners. Nemanja Matic – who was actually one of the better players for the hosts – then lost his bearings from a corner early in the second half, allowing Kimpembe to stab home unmarked from close range. Eric Bailly was then guilty of not picking up Mbappe’s run for the second.
TACTICAL TALKING POINT
Cautious wing-backs
Thomas Tuchel set his side up largely how many predicted. Three central defenders were flanked by wing-backs while Marquinhos shielded the back-line. Mbappe led the line, supported by Di Maria and Julian Draxler who operated in the half spaces. However, Dani Alves and Juan Bernat were nowhere near as advanced as Tuchel’s wing-backs at PSG normally are. That’s also why their trademark switch of play this season wasn’t as effective as they sacrificed genuine width for solidarity.
The wing-backs held back to offer more passing options for the back three and thwarted the advances of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard in the first half. With both going off injured for the second period, replacements Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata never posed the same threat in behind which made things rather comfortable for the French outfit. Tuchel sacrificed his best tools of stretching opposition defences and creating space for his attack. In doing so, he nullified United.
GRADING
For United: C-
Strangely, this wasn’t a woeful performance from United. Granted, their defending was erroneous but that aspect has never been convincing this season. Their lack of guile in attack was telling though as their decision-making let them down early on. That said, they enjoyed good passages of play and were never really dominated. Fine margins make all the difference at this level though.
For PSG: B+
It was an excellent away performance by – despite the absentees – what is a well-equipped, quality side. Tuchel was spot on with his tactics and the first goal, from a set-piece, put them in the driving seat. They endured a slightly nervous start, mind, but the second strike may well have killed off the tie.
