PSG’s notes against Benfica (1-1): Messi’s symphony, Donnarumma’s saves

Gianluigi Donnarumma: 7.5

Admittedly, he is still in difficulty with his kicking game (7th, 39th). But when he saves so many situations with his hands, we remember the primary function of a goalkeeper. From the foot (8th), with the opposite hand (18th) or else in a less academic way (14th, 37th), he will have rejected everything for a long time before being deceived by one of his own (42nd). He saves Paris by defeating Rafa Silva at the end of the match (81st).

• In short : An impassable wall.

Ashraf Hakimi: 5

He spent his game being behind defensively. Behind Enzo Fernandez (42nd) when the Argentinian delivered the perfect cross to equalize. Behind Rafa Silva (81st) when the Portuguese was going to challenge Donnarumma. Defensively, his match was well below expectations but the offensive part was not much more convincing. Not so often found, not so often launched, however, he stumbles over Vlachodimos (61st).

• In short : We would have liked to see him more.

Sergio Ramos: 4.5

He started the match cornered by the Portuguese pressing (9th) and never seemed to regain his serenity. Rarely inspired with the ball, he will have participated in the feeling of insecurity of the Parisian defense through lost duels and sometimes random placements.

• In short : Not the great Ramos.

Marquinhos: 4

But how many duels has he lost? Still positioned in the axis of the three-man defense, the Brazilian will have spent his game suffering defensively. He is even completely out of the way on the big chance of Rafa Silva (81st). With the ball, we feel hesitant and therefore frankly cautious on the recovery, penalizing PSG in their ball outings.

• In short : It really is time to worry…

Danilo Pereira: 5.5

Where the ball sometimes burned the feet of his friends, he was able to restore calm (1st). He is obviously unhappy on the csc but it was the most reassuring of the three defenders, with some well-felt spurts (17th, 74th).

• In short : Solid at the post.

Nuno Mendes: 5.5

He is still as independent in his left lane. The face of the match did not offer him a thousand opportunities to show off but each of his climbs will have been incisive, allowing PSG to gain precious meters. His center that no one could take back was perfect (65th). Right after, he held his left thigh before giving way.

• In short : He has grown well.

Replaced by Juan Bernat (68th).

Marco Veratti: 6

He had been targeted by Benfica in the first quarter of an hour and it showed. Not always precise in his transmissions, the Italian finally regained the upper hand later, helped by a greater proximity from Lionel Messi and Vitinha. If Paris took over in the second half, it was also because the Little Owl regained control.

• In short : The heart of the Parisian reactor.

Vitinha: 6

It’s a habit but the Portuguese was still in the oven and in the mill. He too took the tide for a quarter of an hour before regaining the upper hand. His technical ease offered a lot of oxygen in the middle, like this long sequence of conservation (34th). Very intelligent tactically, he is definitely essential to this team.

• In short : Like it feels like it’s been there for years.

Replaced by Fabian Ruiz (87th), author of a heavy strike and a valuable tactical foul.

Lionel Messi: 7.5

He took a long time to pick up to come and support the Vitinha-Verratti duo. But it was on one of his first accelerations that he struck down lightning. His curled left, following a good movement of the MNM, is divine (22nd). What followed was a display of his class and technical virtuosity. Very close to the duo in the middle, he often put Paris in the right direction, like his service for Hakimi (61st) or Mbappé (69th). Only downside, this little touch too much on a potential match point (79th).

Replaced by Pablo Sarabia (82nd).

Kylian Mbappe: 4

His start to the match was a festival of failed transmissions. If his pivot game allows the goal of Messi (22nd), he never seemed connected to the other members of the trio. His second period could have given birth to a magnificent goal but Vlachodimos decided otherwise (68th). Still, his initiatives were much less incisive than usual, through his fault (74th) or because his teammates had not followed (84th). His poor final control (90 + 1st) sums up his complicated performance.

Neymar: 4.5

His positioning will have remained a mystery for many minutes and his delicate start to the match undoubtedly stems from this situation. He is still a decisive passer for Messi (22nd). More prominent in the second half, he hit the crossbar on an acrobatic bicycle from the left (49th). But he experienced technical waste before finally leaving his match, annoyed by the blows received. A classic.

• In short : Less influential, more irritable.