Sergio Ramos bagged his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain as they secure a comfortable 4-0 win over Stade Reims.
Paris Saint-Germain sign off for the international break in an emphatic fashion, securing a 4-0 win over Stade de Reims on Saturday. It was a comprehensive victory for Les Parisien, as they maintain their resounding 11 point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
As the result suggests, it was a dominant performance from PSG, who looked in good touch early on, applying pressure to the Reims defence. They had the lion’s share of possession, although there was a lack of incision in the final third, with the attackers not being coherent enough to truly test Predrag Rajkovic in goal. That was until the 44th minute when a lucky break found Marco Verratti inside the box.
The midfielder made no mistake in handing PSG the opener just before half-time. PSG looked more direct and less sophisticated in the second half. Sergio Ramos’ goal in the hour mark was a real morale-booster, followed by the introduction of Lionel Messi, who had a part to play in making PSG much more creative and coherent going forward.
Nevertheless, the hosts were quite lucky to find the back of the net twice during the final phase of the game. In the 67th minute, Verratti’s effort took a couple of deflections, resulting in an own goal from Wout Faes. Shortly afterwards, it was Danilo’s attempt on goal that took another deflection to leave Rajkovic stranded in between the sticks.
Here, at the Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over the PSG players in their comprehensive victory over Reims this weekend.
Keylor Navas: 6.5/10
Filling for the injured Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas made a couple of good saves to deny Reims the opportunity to open the scoring. The Costa Rican remained alert throughout most part of the game, though he will largely thank the defence for his clean sheet this weekend.
Thilo Kehrer: 7/10
Thilo Kehrer produced another solid display at right-back. He did have occasional problems dealing with the threat of Hugo Ekitike, but he showcased a lot of grit. The defender is not as useful as Achraf Hakimi going forward, but it was a solid display to help PSG keep a clean sheet.
Marquinhos: 7.5/10
Marquinhos remained a strong defensive outlet for PSG. His resolute nature of defending made it difficult for the likes of Ekitike to truly trouble Navas in goal, as the Brazilian continues his rapid progress as a defensive leader.
Sergio Ramos: 8/10
Sergio Ramos was an excellent addition to the defence for the home side. His aggression, experience and leadership were crucial in helping Les Parisien deal with a sharp attacking Reims setup. The defender also scored his first goal for the club by reacting quickly to a set piece.
Sergio Ramos's first ever goal for PSG ??❤️???..Let's GOOOO……#Ramos #PSGSDRpic.twitter.com/ZiU3ToJBW7
— EhsaN (@EhsaN_PSG) January 23, 2022
Nuno Mendes: 7/10
Nuno Mendes produced a decent display at left-back. His pace and offensive support were always a boon for the attackers, whereas the youngster was largely solid defensively, keeping Nathaniel Mbuku at bay.
Danilo Pereira: 7/10
Operating in the holding midfield role, Danilo Pereira exhibited grit and a tad bit of ambition in regards to his offensive movements. It was rewarded with a goal at the end, though the Portuguese international was not the most incisive player in possession, notably conceding a couple of turnovers.
Leandro Paredes: 7.5/10
Leandro Paredes was one of the best performers in the game for PSG. The Argentine international won numerous balls in midfield, thus initiating a majority of PSG counter-attacks. He looked solid and comfortable in the holding midfield role, preventing the likes of Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa from dominating things centrally.
Marco Verratti: 8.5/10
Marco Verratti was undisputedly the best player in this win over Reims. The midfielder offered creativity in the middle of the park, carrying the ball well and serving as the conduit between midfield and attack. His link-up play looked quite promising as well, while the Italian was at the right place at the right time to bag a couple of goals, though the second one was ultimately registered as an own goal.
A BRACE FOR VERRATTI? WE ARE LIVING IN A SIMULATION. pic.twitter.com/y9PfL0locY
— Galu (@PSGalu) January 23, 2022
Angel Di Maria: 7/10
Angel Di Maria produced a decent display in his right wing role. The former Manchester United star lacked accuracy and incision with his final balls, but the winger caused problems for the Reims defenders with his trickery and craft. He notably produced the corner that led to Ramos’ goal, shortly before his substitution.
Mauro Icardi: 6/10
Mauro Icardi was one of the few PSG players that struggled on the night. Spearheading the attack in the absence of Neymar, the Argentine lumbered around the pitch without providing too much in the final third. He wasted a couple of good opportunities, including the final one of the game, where the striker ended up heading directly into his hands.
Kylian Mbappe: 7.5/10
Kylian Mbappe was extremely selfish during the first half. His distrust towards Icardi was evident as the attacker looked to create everything by himself. He was a bit more inclusive after the restart, spreading the ball well in the final third and causing problems with his runs in behind. He registered the assist for Danilo’s goal during the late stages of the game.
Substitutes
Lionel Messi: 7.5/10
Lionel Messi made his return from a long layoff when he replaced Di Maria around the hour mark. The playmaker instantly added the creative essence in the final third, thanks to his incredible vision and ability to ride the challenges of the opposition defenders. He was deeply involved in the third goal.
Wonderful 20 minutes for Messi. The legend is back and showed his amazing dribbling and sharpness.
2022, we’re coming for everything ? pic.twitter.com/1ayjICBIbX
— mx (@MessiMX30ii) January 23, 2022
Ander Herrera: N/A
A late replacement for Verratti. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Julian Draxler: N/A
A late replacement for Mbappe. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
