Paris Saint-Germain Player Ratings vs Bordeaux: 8/10 for MOTM Gueye; only five players get 7 or more

Idrissa Gueye was the shining light as Paris Saint-Germain secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bordeaux on Wednesday.

Paris Saint-Germain sustained pressure on league leaders LOSC Lille with a narrow 1-0 win over Bordeaux on Wednesday. It was a tighter game than imagined as the depleted visiting attack, devoid of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, struggled to create too many opportunities.

As a matter of fact, Mauricio Pochettino’s men could only muster three shots on target, one of which was a moment of brilliance from Pablo Sarabia to find the opener in the 20th minute. PSG did look quite threatening in those early stages of the game, but their influence waned as Bordeaux dug deeper.

The hosts will be a little disappointed to have failed to create too many themselves, with a late effort from Jimmy Briand serving as the only scoring opportunity. It wasn’t enough to find the equaliser as PSG continue to chase the league leaders Lille and with a match against the top three soon coming up, the Ligue 1 table could rapidly change its complexion in recent weeks.

Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will take a closer look at how the PSG players performed in their narrow win over Bordeaux on Wednesday.

Keylor Navas: 7/10

With Bordeaux amassing just two shots on target, Keylor Navas did not have too many saves to make. Yet, he had to remain alert to certain opportunities for the home side and reacted well to deny Briant an equaliser late in the game. An ideal way to cap off a cautious and effective performance in between the sticks.

Colin Dagba: 5/10

Starting at right-back in the absence of Alessandro Florenzi, Colin Dagba was not particularly polished in the defensive department. He was not quite effective either, especially when it came to his forays into the final third. He was eventually replaced during the final phase of the game, with Kehrer coming in.

Marquinhos: 7.5/10

Marquinhos’s leadership at the back was crucial as PSG somehow defended their slender one-goal cushion for large parts of the game. The captain marshalled his troops well, appearing vocal while his ability to read the game and make good tackles minimised the influence of Samuel Kalu. A top performance.

Presnel Kimpembe: 7.5/10

Presnel Kimpembe offered the defensive support for Marquinh, at the heart of the four-man PSG backline. He offered the urgency when any Bordeaux player had any possession for a sustained amount of time. In addition, his aggression, tenacity and pace were key elements to PSG’s defensive performance in this match.

Layvin Kurzawa: 6.5/10

Layvin Kurzawa could not make much of an impact going forward upon his return to the starting eleven. It was evident in PSG’s lack of penetration throughout the game. The left-back, though, did not make any particular mistake defensively, although there was room for improvements in his service going forward.

Danilo Pereira: 6/10

Danilo Pereira started in midfield, in the absence of Marco Verratti. While the Portuguese international did offer defensive solidity in the number six role, one could argue that he does not have the technical quality. It may have also played a part in restricting PSG’s creative prowess, especially without stars like Veratti, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Idrissa Gueye: 8/10

Idrissa Gueye had an excellent start to the game, covering a lot of ground and even playing a key role in the build-up towards the opening goal. The midfielder shone without possession as well, creating a few decent turnovers and haggling the Bordeaux ball-carriers at every given opportunity. A solid performance from the former Everton man.

Pablo Sarabia: 7/10

Pablo Sarabia made an early impression, in what can be described as a rare start. The Spaniard looked incisive and took his chance well to score the early opener. However, his influence eventually waned as time progressed, though perhaps due to a shift in dynamic that forced his team to defend for the most part of the second half.

Rafinha: 6/10

Rafinha was a vital cog in PSG’s approach play in the first half. He was involved in the game, often picking up passes from midfield and spreading it in the final third, albeit with a certain degree of sloppiness. However, the playmaker could not do much in the second half as PSG opted for a more conservative approach.

Julian Draxler: 5/10

Julian Draxler had an ineffective game against Bordeaux, failing to create any clear-cut chances for his team. There was a lack of penetration from his end, with the German being easily contained by the Bordeaux defenders. He was unsurprisingly taken off during the final phase of the game.

Mauro Icardi: 4/10

It was a bad day at the office for Mauro Icardi, who struggled against the low block of Bordeaux. He simply was not afforded enough time and space with the ball, while the forward also failed to make his trademark runs into the penalty area. Certainly among the worst performers for PSG in this tie.

SUBSTITUTES

Ander Herrera: 6/10

Ander Herrera replaced Draxler in the 74th minute to add more urgency, motivation and leadership in the middle of the park. The ex-Manchester United star did well to help his side see out a narrow victory.

Thilo Kehrer: N/A

A late replacement for Dagba. Made one impressive run forward but did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Abdou Diallo: N/A

A late replacement for Sarabia as Pochettino opted for additional defensive cover. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.