Edinson Cavani (PSG): On target !

Fifty seven seconds  to score  and qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions  League, did PSG do the job?

Being qualified already, is very good news for the Parisians, but if the club want to finish first of their Group, they’ll need a victory in Barcelona’s castle of Camp Nou. Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury, PSG’s firing force has considerably weaken; Cavani mistfired several times and not only in yesterday’s game !

Laurent Blanc’s squad ensured the essential, but it was plain to see that the players were already focused in their next Ligue 1 fixture versus Olympique de Marseille currently sitting first on the League Table.

So, which players were good and which ones were bad ?

Man of the Match: Lucas Moura, 8,5

Unstopable during the whole game, he gave lots of headache to his opponents. Best Parisian, he created several good chances (28th, 32th) and demonstrated his world-class technical ability. Subbed at 86th (Cabaye) he left the pitch under a standing ovation, from the club’s supporters.

Salvatore Sirigu : 6

Quiet evening for the Italian goalkeeper; he reacted well in the 12th minute versus the  sole Cypriote chance and generally  stayed an attentive spectator of the game.

Van der Wiel : 6

His assist for Cavani’s goal, was perfect; he defended well and he was also interesting going forward, against a  weak Cypriot team. Nice interact with Lucas.

Thiago Silva : 6,5

Another good solid game, for the Parisian Captain. Nothing exceptional, but he was  well concentrated and always available for his teammates.

David Luiz : 6

A uneventiful game, for the former Chelsea player; his constant aggression permitted his teammates to go forward  and enjoy a quiet evening.

Maxwell: 5

Not his best  performance, so far; quite good defensively, the former Barcelona’s player, didn’t convince, for he wasn’t  able to help the team to create chances to score.

Thiago Motta : 7

Not very convincing in Ligue 1 games, the Italian international was “the boss” of the Parc des Princes midfield; he exploited cleverly his opponents weaknesses and gained many duels. He was the mastermind of the pitch and good in defending, when needed.

 Blaise Mathuidi : 7

Good game, for the french international; generous in finding solutions for his teammates, proposing game alternatives to help the squad go forward and creating several chances  with his accomplice on the pitch, Javier Pastore.

Javier Pastore : 7,5

Another good game from the Argentinian international; PSG’s player in form, since the beginning of the season, he was brilliant on the pitch, at last free to go where he was needed the most.He offered some very good opportunities to score and he almost scored a wonder-goal (60th).

Lucas Moura (see above MOTM)

Edinson Cavani : 5,5

Scoring  only after 57 seconds, made him the quickest goalscorer of the club, but afterwards the Uruguay’s international, lost his accuracy many times (17th, 37th, 56th, 79th …) It’s clear that Zlatan’s absence doesn’t help.

Lavezzi : 3,5

Is he out of form, injured or what? The little Argentinian, usually so active and generous on the pitch, was yesterday a shadow of his former self. Subbed by Bahebeck (78th)

Here’s the game’s highlights :

Categories: Analysis, Champions League, opinion

Tags: APOEL FC, Champions League, Edinson Cavani, PSG