The tops
- Mbappé-Dembélé, that changes everything
They were both starters, which said a lot about the importance given by Luis Enrique to this Coupe de France quarter-final. And as is often the case, they were decisive. Kylian Mbappé initiated the Parisian success and was involved in the majority of dangerous situations, notably finding the post. The Bondynois was in his register, like Ousmane Dembélé. Elusive, the former Barcelona player created numerous differences with his dribbling and creativity, and his self-sacrifice in pressing was rewarded with the second Parisian goal. When they are there, it’s always a different story.
It’s not really in this register that it is expected. But Fabian Ruiz played a crucial role in the finish to allow Paris to reach the last four. After a delicious opening for Kylian Mbappé, the Spanish midfielder offered the Parisians the break with a fox goal, in ambush after an error from Marcin Bulka in front of Ousmane Dembélé. Beyond this ability to be decisive, Ruiz delivered a successful performance in the Parisian midfield, perhaps his benchmark match this season.
- Boga made the comparison
Paris had a hell of a player on the left side of its attack with Kylian Mbappé. But Jérémie Boga was not left out on the Nice left wing. He has long tortured Warren Zaire-Emery with his speed and dribbling quality, like his slalom in the Parisian defense on the Nice goal. If the Aiglons stayed in the match after their disaster in the first half hour, it was largely thanks to him. Even if it wasn’t enough.
The flops
- Bulka, the rotten evening
Formerly of PSG, he was obviously keen to shine. But the evening turned out badly for Marcin Bulka. Powerless on Mbappé’s first goal, the Aiglons goalkeeper mainly offered the second to the Parisian by having the ball stolen by Ousmane Dembélé, who came to press him. Unhappy until the end, he ended up with a bloody face after contact, while he had just made a superb save from a free kick from Kang-in Lee. When it doesn’t want…
- Zaire-Emery, a concern on the right
He’s not really the problem. And if he struggled for a long time against Boga, Warren Zaire-Emery had the merit of giving a better copy in the second half, in a hybrid position of right side supposed to move into the middle during the possession phase. The young French international has certainly been lined up in this position in anticipation of the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League for which Achraf Hakimi, the usual starter, will be suspended. But he is significantly more efficient, and impactful, in his preferred role in the middle. And this does not solve PSG’s recurring problem at right-back when the Moroccan is not there.
He remained on an encouraging performance with a goal against Reims. Gonçalo Ramos once again had the trust of Luis Enrique, who notably preferred him to Bradley Barcola. He was not unworthy, but he still remained too discreet in an offensive animation which mainly revolved around Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé. The Portuguese notably missed a golden opportunity on an offering from Zaire-Emery. Precisely in a surface killer register in which it is expected. And where, against Nice, he did not convince.