Parisian fortune: Safonov led PSG to the semi-finals of the Champions League
Matvey Safonov became one of the main heroes of the Champions League quarterfinal clash with Liverpool (2-0). The Russian goalkeeper not only kept the PSG goal intact, becoming the first Russian goalkeeper who managed to play "zero" at Anfield in a Champions League match, but also saved the team time after time in the most intense minutes of the meeting, withstanding the most powerful pressure of the hosts. Safonov's third consecutive dry match in the playoffs of the tournament allowed him to repeat the Paris club record set in 2019, and the goalkeeper himself received the highest rating in the team and once again confirmed the status of PSG's key figure in the decisive matches of European competitions.
Saving Matthew
A week ago, Liverpool were cautious at the Parc des Princes. However, let's be honest — cowardly. The Reds came to Paris with the task not to lose, but to see how it turns out. Last year, the trick worked, and with a 2:27 strike ratio, the visitors scored with a single shot on target. Only PSG learned that lesson, and the final 2-0 in the first leg was the best thing that could have happened to Arne Slot's team.
On the eve of the second leg, the Slot was rather banal. He said that he never sets the task of playing a low block. That it is necessary to put PSG under pressure and it is important to score first, and one of the key trump cards is the atmosphere of Anfield. The hosts chose a scheme with two classic central strikers, Isak and Ekitike. Slot was going to solve the problem of combining these forwards in almost the main match of the season, and for Isak, who had been recovering from a broken leg for four months, this was his first start appearance since December 9.
Luis Enrique didn't change anything. Fortunately, the Parisians met it halfway and postponed the championship match again, so they worked in a comfortable weekly cycle. In addition, the current version of the PSG squad is optimal. And in Liverpool, everything started smoothly: the visitors took the ball, and most of the English team's attempts to organize an offensive were nipped in the bud with branded pressure. All the achievements of the Reds in the first half hour were the long—awaited goal (there were none in Paris), but Isak's header turned out to be a warm-up for Safonov.
Parisians could finish everything in this segment. Only Dembele, who was largely responsible for the Paris match not ending with the defeat of his opponent, continued to waste his chances. And what about Liverpool? He was brought back to life by an extremely unpleasant event in the form of an Ekitike injury. The Frenchman was injured in the center of the field when there was no one next to him, and he had to leave the pitch on a stretcher. Such episodes often have the most unpleasant consequences, and unfortunately, they were not without them — according to media reports, Ekitike has a ruptured Achilles, which is why he will miss not only the rest of the season, but also the upcoming World Cup.
However, with Salah's entry into the field, hope returned to the home team's game, and Mo immediately created a moment with his serve — it couldn't be more deadly. Safonov, who had played well on the way out several times before and effectively stopped Isak's shot with his foot (albeit from an offside position), had to turn into a magician. Kerkez, ahead of Hakimi, seemed to be hitting for sure from a few meters away. And even in opposition to the goalkeeper. Nevertheless, Matvey managed to fold up and parry the ball, and Marquinhos prevented van Dijk from finishing off no less effectively.
Meanwhile, PSG also suffered a loss: Hernandez had to replace Nuna Mendes. And the new defense could have failed due to Pacho's miscalculation, but the Ecuadorian fixed everything himself, disrupting Salah's one-on-one exit. And Dembele did not score in the opposite goal again, Konate managed to knock the ball out from under his feet after shooting through.
For the fifth time in a row
If Liverpool started the game with two center-forwards, then with the beginning of the second half there were none left on the field. Isak, obviously, is not ready to play the full match yet, and Gakpo appeared instead. Moreover, the Dutchman, following Salah's example, literally broke into the game and forced Safonov to pull the ball out of the bottom corner with an extremely unpleasant long-range shot. Matvey simply had no time to catch his breath — Liverpool finally turned on maximum momentum, while the Parisians also lost Douai due to injury.
It seems that PSG has never been under such pressure this season. For the first quarter of an hour after the break, the Parisians fought heroically on the defensive. But when the Merseyside assault seemed to be running out of steam, the guests had to worry very seriously a couple of times. Fortunately for the Parisians, Salah's excellent cross through the penalty area was ruined by Kerkez, and the penalty awarded after McAllister's fall was canceled after a tip from VAR. In addition, the defenders blocked a lot of blows, making life easier for Safonov.
And then the Russian goalkeeper forced both Gravenberch and the last hope of the Slot in the attack, young Ngumoa, to capitulate. Matvey firmly took the ball aimed at the far corner, and Rio's other attempts were neutralized by the defenders. What the winger managed at the weekend against Fulham did not work against Marquinhos, Hakimi and Neves, who constantly helped the defense inside the penalty area.
Paris was patient and waited for its chance. The first half shot from Dembele, who also scored the winning goal at Anfield a year ago, was enough. Barkol and Hvich prepared everything, and Usman put the ball into the corner with his left hand. And then PSG had another moment — after Safonov's long pass in the direction of Barkol. But what did not work out in this approach was achieved in the end, when the attacking trio organized a double by Dembele.
Class in its purest form! PSG knocked out an English club in the playoffs for the fifth time in a row and set a French record by going undefeated nine matches in the relegation series. Safonov is a full—fledged creator of these successes, who also continues to conquer England. After a great match at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, where there were more saves but less pressure, Matvey produced an exemplary, and in key episodes fantastic, game at Anfield — six saves. Three "crackers" in a row in the Champions League playoffs is a repeat of the Parisians' record.
By the way, Matvey received the highest score from the WhoScored portal for the return match with Liverpool — 8.6 points and was recognized as the best player of the meeting.
— Matvey played a great match, deserving the highest marks, but I would highlight another point. Russian goalkeepers have never played in the Champions League final, and Matvey is now the closest candidate," Ruslan Nigmatullin, a former goalkeeper for the Russian national team, told Izvestia. — I would certainly be proud of the Russian goalkeeper school if Matvey played in the final.
In the semifinals, PSG will face the winner of the Bayern—Real Madrid pair.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
