There is urgency for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League. Swept by Wolfsburg (0-4), shocked at home by Real Madrid (1-2), the Paris players experienced another setback, Wednesday 12 November, at Old Trafford, on the pitch of Manchester United (1-2). With zero points midway through the league stage of the competition, qualification for the play-offs still seems a long way off.
Dominated from the start by the more aggressive Mancuniennes, who opened the scoring thanks to French international Melvine Malard (31e), the Parisiennes equalized just before the break through a gem from Olga Carmona, whose cross-shot from the left found Middleton-Patel’s top corner (45e + 3).
Until then convincingly against the best defense in the Champions League, Paulo Cesar’s players found themselves in trouble when a precise header from Fridolina Rolfö (1-2, 58e), followed by a tight corner from Malard – tipped over in the last minute by the Earps – saw the Mancunians regain control of the match.
Bayern Munich as the next opponent
Trying to equalize until the final minutes, the Ile-de-France players may have regretted the lack of realism and precision as they twice found the net against Middleton-Patel (2e46e).
“In the first half we conceded a goal that happened for no reason, it’s difficult in a game like that, we couldn’t afford it”midfielder Jackie Groenen’s reaction at the La Chaîne l’Equipe microphone.
A frustrating match against one of the three leaders of the Champions League, with Barcelona and OL Lyonnes (9 points), nevertheless confirmed a certain improvement seen in the championship (three wins in a row). “We had more chances than our opponents but we didn’t realize them (…) We can’t be proud of what we did in the Champions League after three days, but we have to keep going, I’m proud of my players tonight.”said Paulo Cesar.
Currently 16e of the eighteen teams entered, Parisiennes will host Bayern Munich (6e) on November 20, before continuing against OH Louvain (9e), on December 9, then conclude the league phase at Benfica (15e), on December 17. A match where mistakes are no longer allowed in the hope of securing a play-off spot by finishing among the 5the and 12e place.
