The Gym was unable to put up a fight against the Parisian steamroller. The Red and Blacks made the task even more difficult for themselves when they conceded in the 3rd minute of the game.

Faced with the Parisian mountain, Lucien Favre had decided to start in a 3-5-1-1 which had worked well in the game 8 days ago against Lazio, with the only change being Arnaud Lusamba’s first start of the season instead of  Rémi Walter. The only change outfield, because Yoan Cardinale, named in the starting line-up, was forced to pull out during the warm-up (pain behind the right thigh) and leave his place to Walter Benitez.

“Close up the spaces and defend well for as long as possible.” The scenario the Aiglons were hoping for but that had to be reconsidered right from the get go, given that PSG found the net from their first chance in the 3rd minute of the game, when Edinson Cavani popped up at the front post to head home the free-kick sent in from out wide by Di Maria. His header beat the unfortunate Benitez who could have hoped for a better start to his season.

After this nightmarish start, which could have been made worse in the 9th minute if Cavani hadn’t found the Argentine keeper after an interception by Draxler, the Gym managed, for around twenty minutes, to put in place what they had planned. A more compact unit, more clean movement of the ball, and more technical accuracy in attack from Mario Balotelli and Wesley Sneijder. This allowed the Aiglons to be dangerous from a shot from the Italian which just slipped past the post (10’), and a left-footed strike from the Dutchman which flew over (19’). But PSG, supported by the lead it had secured, was able to see out this decent period for the Aiglons and to then begin its high press and find its aggressiveness. At the half-hour mark, after an interception, Di Maria from the centre-circle, saw the run from Cavani in behind Dante. The Uruguayan flicked it beyond the on-rushing Benitez and took the score to 2-0, rather cruel on the Gym but clearly illustrating the difference in confidence and technical accuracy between the two sides.

The second period unfortunately started in the same vein as the first. From its first opportunity after returning from the dressing rooms, PSG put the game to bed. The Aiglons had, however, started higher up the pitch and Sneijder had the first chance. But a slice of luck was added to the Parisian precision when a smart header from Cavani was turned into his own net by Dante, as he battled with Di Maria and Dani Alves (3-0, 52').

In the final thirty minutes, the Parisians were able to go about their game without having to force things, whilst the Gym was looking, above all, not to concede another. But the Gym’s evening went from bad to worse as they lost Nampalys Mendy (replaced by Tameze) and Allan Saint-Maximin (just after he had come on) to injury and finished the game with 10 men because Lucien Favre had already made his 3 changes.

In the closing stages of the game, Plea got the Gym’s first and only shot on target (90'+1) before Lucas forced a good save from Benitez (90'+2).

A.D.

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