Paris Saint-Germain will hope to spice up morale once they go to Rennes in Ligue 1 this weekend earlier than making an attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit within the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie towards Liverpool. PSG had been extremely unfortunate to not beat the English Premier League leaders on the Parc des Princes in Wednesday’s first leg, a sport through which they’d 65 p.c possession and 28 makes an attempt on aim to the guests’ two. But the Parisians had been denied by an impressed efficiency from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, which included one gorgeous late cease from a Desire Doue shot.
There was additionally a marginal offside resolution to rule out a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike within the first half, the Georgian’s left calf being simply forward of the final defender.
Harvey Elliott scored the winner for Liverpool within the 87th minute, and the loss for PSG ended a run of 10 straight victories in all competitions through which they’d scored 40 objectives, in addition to a streak of twenty-two video games unbeaten.
Now the reigning French champions face the daunting process of getting to win at Anfield if they’re to keep away from being eradicated from Europe’s elite membership competitors within the final 16 for the sixth time in 9 seasons.
However, coach Luis Enrique and his gamers struck a defiant word following the primary leg.
“The sport was not determined by little particulars,” Luis Enrique mentioned, describing the end result of the match as “unfair”.
“We misplaced as a result of Alisson made 5 unbelievable saves. Liverpool performed the best way they did as a result of we did not allow them to play the best way they usually play.
“One staff was far, far superior.”
Before heading to England, PSG will look to take care of their unbeaten home report this season once they play a Rennes facet having fun with a revival beneath new coach Habib Beye.
Paris are cruising in direction of their eleventh Ligue 1 title in 13 seasons, their lead over second-placed Marseille at the moment 13 factors.
It is greater than two years since they had been overwhelmed away from house within the league, however mid-table Rennes have gained 4 of their 5 matches performed since Beye’s appointment.
“We should not going to fake to be victims, we all know what sort of staff PSG are,” former Marseille, Newcastle United and Aston Villa defender Beye mentioned on Thursday forward of Saturday’s conflict in Brittany.
“Either we capitulate or we exit with our heads held excessive and with ambition.”
Player to observe: Emanuel Emegha
Strasbourg have emerged as outdoors contenders for European qualification thanks largely to an impressive defensive report in latest months.
Liam Rosenior’s staff have saved 4 straight clear sheets, and have conceded solely 5 objectives of their final 11 league outings, with seven wins, three attracts and only one defeat in that point.
However, 22-year-old Dutch ahead Emegha has additionally performed a significant position in that superb run. Emegha is a former Sturm Graz participant, identical to new Monaco sensation Mika Biereth.
While Biereth has simply scored hat-tricks in three of his final 5 Ligue 1 appearances, Emegha has netted eight instances in 9 league video games.
Four of Strasbourg’s seven defeats this season have include Emegha out injured.
Key stats
7 – PSG have misplaced seven instances towards Rennes because the Qatari takeover of 2011, greater than towards every other staff in that point
100 – Gianluigi Donnarumma might make his one hundredth Ligue 1 look for PSG this weekend
7 – Relegation battlers Le Havre wish to finish a run of seven straight house league defeats this weekend
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
