Paris Saint-Germain Edges Girona 1-0 with Late Own Goal in Champions League Thriller
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) snatched a squeaker of a 1-0 victory against their powerful opponent Girona, who faced Paris Saint-Germain within the UEFA Champions League. The final whistle was marked by a crucial own goal by Paulo Gazzaniga of Girona, thus securing the three points for Paris Saint-Germain. Until the end, the game at the Parc des Princes was totally tense as both teams simply could not find the opening to break the deadlock. PSG dominated possession and sought to create more opportunities, but they could not convert the attacking plays to a goal. So, it was left to an error of Gazzaniga in the 90th minute to give away the all-important group stage win from PSG.
A Dominant Display by PSG
From the onset, PSG illustrated their intentions by taking 62% possession and launching relentless attacks on Girona’s defense. Still, the French giants could only capitalize that possession into goals solely on account of a begrudged Girona defense and several crucial saves from Gazzaniga.
In all, PSG managed 24 shots with only 5 ones on target, while Girona was modest on its attempts to shoot at the goal with only 3. Capitalizing on the superiority during the match, the home team posed a serious danger to Girona’s safety with 71 attacks. PSG’ two keymen – Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé were strongly marked by Girona’s defenders so that they could not score during regular time.
Despite not managing to score during open play, PSG’s persistence was rewarded in the final minute when a cross into the box came in low and saw Gazzaniga make a mistake, gifting all three points to the Parisians.
Key Substitutions and Tactical Changes
Manager Luis Enrique effectively made some essential changes from the remaining half with introducing fresh legs for PSG to break the deadlock. In the 63rd minute, the manager did a triple substitution by bringing on Kang-in Lee for Vitinha while replacing Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz with Warren Zaïre-Emery for PSG. These changes were mainly effective in forcing more energy in both midfield and attack for PSG in the direction of winning this game.
Girona also brought in a few substitutes in search of relief under the constant pressure, and Arnaut Danjuma and Cristhian Stuani were brought in to add as much depth as possible to the attacking line. Though Girona brought in these substitutes, their attacking option did not find much chance of scoring as the PSG’s defense proved to be rock-solid all along.
Marquinhos and PSG Defense: Mighty at the Back End
A laboured PSG attack was matched by Girona’s stagnant attack. Their forwards had no real chances, thanks to the back line led by captain Marquinhos, yellow carded early in the game but otherwise composed and game-like, leading his defense well. Marquinhos took part in some very important clearances and interceptions, supporting his team to keep its clean sheet.
The game was never really in Girona’s favor, but they did manage to create one shot at goal that Donnarumma dealt with easily. PSG’s defense left the midfielders relatively free to roam forward in the attacking third.
Gritty Girona
But Girona was robust in its defense, with Paulo Gazzaniga, who ended a miserable night, making some crucial saves. His yellow card in the 74th minute was a clear sign of the sort of pressure he had to endure, as PSG kept bombarding Girona’s goal.
Girona committed 18 fouls throughout the game in an attempt to disrupt PSG’s rhythm, with three of them getting yellow cards against Oriol Romeu, Viktor Tsigankov and Luka Krejci. The latter were a part of the tactics Girona was adopting in order to lose PSG’s rhythm and prevent them from fluidly starting attacks.
While Girona struggled to create scoring opportunities, they managed to keep PSG for most part of the game. Their defense was working hard throughout the match, completing 16 clearances and 12 interceptions as a testament of their resolve to stay organized at the back.
Decisive Moment: Gazzaniga’s Own Goal
The defining moment of the match came at the stroke of 90 when PSG’s incessant pressure finally paid off in the form of a Paulo Gazzaniga own goal. A cross from PSG’s left flank created confusion in the box, and the Gazzaniga attempted to punch the ball clear. Unfortunately for the Argentine goalkeeper, the punch did not go as he would like, and the ball deflected into his own net, giving PSG a just minutes before stoppage time.
It was an own goal, a heart-wrenching moment for Girona as they had worked so hard to deny PSG forwards all along the match. Left dejected by the error, the player, Gazzaniga, saw PSG’s players capitalize on the fortunate break.
PSG’s Campaign in Champions League: A Promising Start
Such a triumph not only hands PSG an imperative three points in the run of Champions League group stage but also marks it as a phenomenal year-end to round off. Things can’t get any better for Luis Enrique and his players as they will end the year in a very impressive mood. All eyes on Kylian Mbappé and others like him, with expectations huge from their team, all to come deep in this most prestigious competition this season.
Though never fluid with Girona, PSG managed to press out a win that testifies to its resilience in grinding out results. Moreover, it bodes well for the team in terms of group stage challenges.
Conclusion: A Harsh Victory for PSG
An own goal might have been the difference-maker for Paris Saint-Germain in that 1-0 victory over Girona, but it was basically a testament to their general superiority in the match. Although it was pretty hard to break open the obstinate Girona defense, they still managed to do so because they kept trying throughout the game. Some player efforts were courtesy of the tactical changes that Luis Enrique made, which ensured that PSG would carry all three vital points home.
Going forward, PSG may continue their Champions League experience, but more is expected since they have finally gained their first win. Key players have now started to find their form and the team shows resilience, so PSG will be confident going into their next fixtures.
Read more about related articles, just click here