PSG – NAN Archive

Mar, Thu, 2020

Sport

PSG oust Borussia Dortmund to banish last 16 round demons in empty stadium

Demons
Paris, March 12, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Paris St-Germain (PSG) put their UEFA Champions League last 16 round traumas behind them as they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.

But no fans were in the stadium to witness the achievement.

Having lost 1-2 in the first leg, Neymar and Juan Bernat scored before half-time to secure a 3-2 aggregate win for PSG after a game played behind closed doors.

This was due to the coronavirus, which has infected 2,281 people and killed 48 in France.

The result eased painful memories of 2017, when PSG were eliminated 6-5 on aggregate by FC Barcelona after letting slip a 4-0 advantage.

Also, last season they lost to Manchester United on away goals after a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

The French champions reached the last eight for the first time since 2016 as Borussia Dortmund finished with 10 men following Emre Can’s sending-off in the dying minutes.

Over 3,000 ultra fans gathered near the Parc des Princes before kick-off, after being granted authorisation by the police.

Demonstrations were being considered an exemption to the ban of gatherings of more than 1,000 as French authorities try to contain the coronavirus, which has infected 2,281 people and killed 48.

They lit firework and their chants could be overheard in the stadium before, during, and after the game as the players went to the top of the Auteuil stand to cheer with them.

“Our only virus is Paris SG,” a banner in the empty arena read.

“It was a perfect game,” said centre back Marquinhos, who with Presnel Kimpembe marshalled the PSG defence.

“We now need to keep the same mindset for the remainder of the competition.”

PSG were without captain Thiago Silva, who had not fully recovered from a hamstring injury, while Kylian Mbappe started on the bench after suffering from a sore throat.

The French side dominated possession and had the first clear chance when Edinson Cavani’s cross shot from Di Maria’s through ball was deflected by goalkeeper Roman Buerki.

Neymar put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute as he headed home Angel Di Maria’s free-kick for his 35th goal in 57 matches.

He made his presence count with this, after missing the return leg against Manchester United through injury last season.

Bernat doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time by flicking Sarabia’s attempt past Buerki.

PSG pressed high after the break while Erling Haaland, who scored a double in the first leg, never looked likely to add to his 10 UEFA Champions League goals this season.

Thorgan Hazard and Axel Witsel made way for Julian Brandt and Giovanni Reyna as Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre looked to freshen up his attacking line.

(PSG) were suddenly on the back foot.

A brawl erupted two minutes from time after Can fouled Neymar and pushed the Brazilian to the ground.

Can was sent off while Di Maria picked up a yellow card which means the Argentine will be suspended for the first leg of PSG’s quarter-final.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Mar, Mon, 2020

Sport

PSG vs Borussia Dortmund match to take place behind closed doors

Match
Paris, March 9, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) This week’s UEFA Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund will take place behind closed doors.

The development is due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the Paris police authority said on Monday.

The game is scheduled for Paris’ Parc des Princes stadium on Wednesday.

It will see hosts PSG go into the second leg fixture 1-2 behind, having lost the first tie in Dortmund.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Mar, Sun, 2020

Sport

Mbappe masterclass fires PSG to 4-0 win over Dijon

Masterclass
Paris, March 1, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Leaders Paris St-Germain (PSG) cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Dijon in their Ligue 1 clash at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

But it was more than just that, with Kylian Mbappe capping a brilliant individual performance by scoring twice and creating another for Mauro Icardi.

With Neymar and Marco Veratti suspended and Thiago Silva missing with injury, PSG got off to a perfect start.

This was when midfielder Pablo Sarabia steered a mis-hit shot from Marquinhos past Runar Runarsson in the third minute to give them the lead.

Mbappe added a second in the 74th minute.

He timed his run perfectly to collect Julian Draxler’s through ball before rounding Runarsson and slotting the ball through the arms of the diving goalkeeper.

The France international then set up Icardi for PSG’s third three minutes later, sliding a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of the Argentinian striker for him to fire the ball home.

The 21-year-old completed his attacking masterclass with a second goal in stoppage time at the end of the game, rifling the ball past the helpless Runarsson to complete the 4-0 rout.

The win took PSG to 68 points from 27 games and restored their lead at the top of the table to 13.

This followed second-placed Olympique de Marseille’s 3-2 win over Nimes on Friday night.

Dijon remain just above the relegation places with 27 points.

In the late kick-offs, Teji Savanier scored twice for Montpellier as they thumped Strasbourg 3-0.

Angers put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a 1-0 win away to Brest.

Bottom side Toulouse slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home against Rennes.

Amiens, who are second from bottom, lost 1-0 at home to Metz, with Farid Boulaya getting on the scoresheet for the visitors.

On the south coast, Monaco were held to a 1-1 draw with Reims.

Wissam Ben Yedder’s first half penalty kick for the home side was cancelled out by a 58^th minute equaliser from Hassane Kamara.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Mon, 2020

Sport

Neymar sent off as shaky PSG beat Bordeaux in Ligue 1

Sending-off
Paris, Feb. 24, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Paris St-Germain (PSG) extended their Ligue 1 lead to 13 points with a 4-3 home victory against Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday.

But it was a match in which the French champions were again exposed at the back and had Neymar sent off.

A Marquinhos double, Edinson Cavani’s 200th PSG goal and a goal by Kylian Mbappe put the capital side on 65 points from 26 games.

But they lost team captain Thiago Silva to a muscle injury and Neymar picked up a straight red card for a late challenge in stoppage time.

Bordeaux, who scored through Hwang Ui-jo, Pablo and Ruben Pardo, are 12th on 35 points.

Third-placed Stade Rennais beat visiting Nimes 2-1 earlier on Sunday to reduce the gap to second-placed Olympique de Marseille to eight points.

Five days after losing 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund in a UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg fixture, PSG did little to reassure their fans.

The players had “Stay Strong China’’ written on their shirts to show their support for the victims of the coronavirus that has killed more than 2,000 people in China.

In a tough first half, Silva limped off the pitch in the 16th minute with a muscle problem and was replaced by Idrissa Gueye.

Hwang headed home from Nicolas de Preville’s corner as the PSG defence were caught off guard in the 18th minute.

The hosts’ all-time best scorer Cavani drew them level with a header from Angel Di Maria’s cross seven minutes later.

They increased the pressure and Cavani hit the woodwork before Mbappe forced Benoit Costil to make a superb save at the half hour.

Marquinhos deflected Di Maria’s free kick with his shoulder to put the home side ahead three minutes into added time in the first half.

Pablo equalised one minute later in farcical fashion, after second-choice Sergio Rico’s clearance from Marco Verratti’s backpass bounced on to Pablo’s knee and into the goal.

PSG, however, accelerated after the break and Marquinhos put the French champions ahead after 63 minutes, poking home the ball after Costil had parried a Cavani header into his path.

Six minutes later, Mbappe doubled the advantage from close range after being set up by Cavani.

PSG were kept on their toes until the final whistle as Pardo found the top corner with a superb strike seven minutes from time.

Neymar was then sent off for a late and rough challenge on Yacine Adli.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Sat, 2020

Sport

Tuchel surprised by PSG players partying after Borussia Dortmund defeat

Surprise
Paris, Feb. 22, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Paris St-Germain (PSG) coach Thomas Tuchel said he was surprised to see a video of his players partying two days after they were beaten 2-1 at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

The loss was in their UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg fixture on Tuesday in Dortmund.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were among those attending a late party to celebrate the birthdays of Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria.

“I was really surprised yesterday (Friday) afternoon to see that video. Really surprised.

“We talked about it internally and it has to stay within the club,”Tuchel told reporters on Saturday on the eve of their Ligue 1 home game against Girondins de Bordeaux.

PSG lead the standings with 62 points from 25 games, 10 points ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille who host Nantes later on Saturday.

The French champions host Borussia Dortmund in the return leg on March 11.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Wed, 2020

Sport

Haaland sensational in giving Borussia Dortmund 2-1 win over PSG

Haaland
Dortmund (Germany), Feb. 19, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Borussia Dortmund teenager Erling Haaland scored twice in eight minutes on Tuesday to lead his German club to a 2-1 victory over Paris St-Germain (PSG).

In their 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg game in Dortmund, the Norwegian stabbed in from close range after a quick-fire passing move in the 69th minute.

The 19-year-old who joined in the winter has already netted eight times in five Bundesliga matches.

He then thundered in an unstoppable shot for his second goal in the 77th, two minutes after PSG’s Brazilian forward Neymar had levelled for the French champions.

Haaland, the first Borussia Dortmund player to score in his first league, German Cup and Champions League matches, has reached 10 goals in seven games in Europe’s elite competition this season.

These included eight for Salzburg in the group stage, and it is faster than anyone.

He is only the second teenager to net 10 Champions League goals, after Kylian Mbappe, and is the first teenager to score 10 in a single campaign in the competition.

“I still need to improve, keep working,” Haaland said. “I want to go far in the Champions League. With the second goal I enjoyed the moment.”

PSG, who were eliminated at this stage of the competition in the previous three seasons, had fit-again Neymar and Mbappe back in the starting line-up.

But they were almost completely shut out by an extremely efficient Borussia Dortmund backline.

In a cautious first half, the French side had the slight advantage in possession.

But Dortmund carved out the only real chance after 27 minutes with a curled shot from Jadon Sancho.

Mbappe and Neymar were kept under tight surveillance.

Borussia Dortmund defenders Mats Hummels, Lukasz Piszczek —- on his 350th appearance for the club in all competitions —- and Dan Axel Zagadou denying the pair any space to manoeuvre.

The Germans’ main firepower, Haaland, was also shackled for about an hour before he finally found some space to complete a quick Borussia Dortmund move.

PSG, who will be without Marco Verratti and Thomas Meunier for the return leg after they picked up bookings, drew level through Neymar.

The Brazilian found the net after a fine run down the right by Mbappe.

He also later hit the post.

But the visitors could do nothing when 17-year-old substitute Giovanni Reyna found Haaland at the edge of the box.

The in-form forward released a fiercely-struck left foot effort that gave PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas no chance.

The return leg is in Paris on March 11.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Mon, 2020

Sport

Neymar set to play against Borussia Dortmund, PSG coach says

Neymar
Dortmund (Germany), Feb. 17, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Paris St-Germain (PSG) forward Neymar is expected to play on Tuesday against Borussia Dortmund in their UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg tie after overcoming a rib injury.

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel disclosed this on Monday.

The Brazilian did not play in the club’s 4-4 Ligue 1 draw at Amiens over the weekend when Tuchel rested some other players.

“He is here (in Dortmund). He will train and if all goes well he will play tomorrow (Tuesday). Because for us it changes almost everything when he plays and I hope he will play,” said Tuchel.

PSG have been knocked out at this stage in the past three seasons and are desperate to leave a mark on the competition.

“(Neymar) changes everything because if he plays we have his quality and confidence and ability to do (the) decisive.

“It changes everything… because if he does not play we have no other player with that quality to replace him.”

Tuchel, who coached Borussia Dortmund for two seasons before going to Paris, will need to devise a plan to stop the Germans’ formidable attack.

They have scored 22 goals in their five Bundesliga games this year.

“It is absolutely necessary to play with a lot of confidence in this stadium with such fans and such an opponent. Otherwise, you cannot survive,” he added before the clash at Signal Iduna Park.

“We have the team spirit to overcome difficult situations, adapt to different scenarios. That’s the key.”

PSG are under extreme pressure to finally deliver in Europe after spending big money on players in the past few seasons to build a winning squad.

They came agonisingly close to a quarter-final spot last year only to be eliminated by Manchester United with a stoppage-time penalty kick in the second leg.

“If you lose in the round of 16 for three years and you arrive for a fourth time it is clear it is not the same situation,” Tuchel said.

“Every year has its story and maybe we have to accept that it is sport. There are doctors, much more important professions, we play sports but it happens that you lose.

“Maybe later we can breathe a bit easier. We are here and it is important to make the most of it.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Mon, 2020

Sport

PSG have abundant talent even without Neymar, Borussia Dortmund’s coach says

Talent
Dortmund (Germany), Feb. 17, 2020 (Reuters /NAN) Paris St-Germain (PSG) have an abundance of talent and the potential absence of Brazilian Neymar does not make them less dangerous, Borussia Dortmund’s coach Lucien Favre said on Monday.

Forward Neymar has been sidelined for weeks with a rib injury.

He also missed their 4-4 draw in Ligue 1 against struggling Amiens on Saturday, along with several other key players who were rested.

“They have so many players with great qualities and they beat Real Madrid (in the group stage) even without Neymar,” Favre told a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg fixture.

The French team beat Real Madrid 3-0 in Paris while drawing 2-2 in the second game in Spain.

“Neymar is obviously a great player but so is (Kylian) Mbappe and (Angel) Di Maria. I can name at least 10 players on that team with huge potential,” Favre added.

Borussia Dortmund will have to be at their defensive best if they are to contain the French side’s speed.

They did that well during their 4-0 Bundesliga win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.

“If Neymar plays tomorrow (Tuesday) and I am pretty sure he is going to play, then we have to take care of him.

“But they have so many good players. We have to be compact and we have to defend as a team and really be strong,” Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder Axel Witsel also said.

The second leg is in Paris on March 11.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Sun, 2020

Sport

PSG draw 4-4 at Amiens after remarkable comeback

Comeback
Paris, Feb. 16, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) A second-string side by Paris St-Germain (PSG) were held to a 4-4 draw at struggling Amiens in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

After erasing a three-goal deficit, they then went on to concede a stoppage time-equaliser.

The result left PSG 13 points clear of second-placed Olympique de Marseille after manager Thomas Tuchel rested several regular starters.

This was done ahead of Tuesday’s first leg tie of their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash with Borussia Dortmund.

The makeshift line-up, with midfielder Ander Herrera playing in an unfamiliar right-back role, looked all at sea in the opening half.

This was after goals from Serhou Guirassy, Gael Kakuta and Fousseni Diabate gave 19th-placed Amiens a 3-0 lead.

Guirassy fired Amiens ahead with a crisp fifth minute finish and Kakuta made it 2-0 with a rasping shot from 18 metres which gave visiting goalkeeper Keylor Navas no chance.

A huge shock seemed on the cards as Diabate capped a jinking run through the middle with a low shot which went in off the post.

But Herrera pulled one back for the French champions on the stroke of half-time when he steered in a Julian Draxler corner kick.

The Spaniard’s goal helped turn the match as a pair of headers from centre-back Tanguy Kouassi levelled the scores inside the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

Amiens had again been undone by set-pieces as Draxler swung in another corner-kick for Kouassi to rise above his marker and head intot he net.

Five minutes later, the defender met Angel Di Maria’s cross at the far post to silence the home fans.

With Amiens on the back foot, it was no surprise that PSG grabbed a 4-3 lead in the 74th minute.

Mauro Icardi popped up at the far post and tapped in a fine low cross by Juan Bernat.

But the visitors then missed several gilt-edged chances with Edinson Cavani, who was looking for his 200th goal for PSG in all competitions, particularly guilty of poor finishing.

His astonishing miss in the dying minutes was punished moments later at the other end.

Guirassy levelled with a fine finish from inside the penalty area after he was put through by substitute Quentin Cornette.

In the evening’s most entertaining fixture, ninth-placed Girondins Bordeaux missed a chance to move into the top six as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by Dijon.

The visitors dropped one place to 18th.

Mounir Chouiar fired Dijon ahead early on when he capped a fast break and then salvaged a point for the visitors in the closing stages with a delightful shot.

That was after Bordeaux’s Hwaing Ui-Jo and Jimmy Briand had cancelled out his opener.

Bottom team Toulouse are staring at relegation after a 2-0 home defeat by Nice, who are eighth, left them 14 points adrift of the safety zone.

Nimes beat visiting Angers 1-0 to climb out of the bottom three.

Marseille visit fourth-placed Lille and Stade Reims are at home to Rennes, who are third, in Sunday’s stand-out fixtures.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Feb, Fri, 2020

Sport

PSG replace Manchester City as most financially-powerful club, report says

Report
London, Feb. 14, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) French champions Paris St-Germain (PSG) have overtaken Manchester City as the most financially-powerful club in world football, the annual Soccerex Football Finance 100 report has showed.

PSG topped the 2020 edition with a football finance index score of 5.318.

This is based on the value of the current squad, tangible assets, finance available in their accounts, potential owner investment and net debt.

The study said PSG had reduced their debt by 70 million euros (£58.2 million) over the last year while Manchester City’s debt levels had increased by more than 90 million euros.

Bayern Munich came third with Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid completing the top five.

Manchester United fell eight places from last year to 16th in the report, mainly due to the depreciation in squad value and an increase in cash debt.

Europe’s elite sides accounted for 80 per cent of the top 30 but almost half of those clubs are owned by non-European entities.

These include organisations and individuals from the Middle East, North America and South-east Asia, the report said.

“This year’s report paints a positive picture of football’s collective financial health, but it also highlights the growing imbalance between the power of Europe’s modern elite, with some of the game’s heritage brands in danger of being left behind,” Philip Gegan, Soccerex managing director, said.

“In spite of Europe’s dominance, football is very much a global game with investment from football’s emerging markets very much underpinning its continued growth.”

The English Premier League (EPL) is represented by 18 clubs in the top 100, while the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) was the next best with 17.

Los Angeles Football Club were rated highest from the MLS in 18th spot ahead of local rivals LA Galaxy at number 22.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

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