K. Mbappé

PSG player ratings: Kylian Mbappe goes missing and Lionel Messi flops as Ligue 1 leaders lose fifth league game of 2023

Thomas Hindle
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Lionel Messi PSG Lyon Ligue 1 02042023
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Paris Saint-Germain conceded a sloppy second half goal and created little by means of response to mark a dour 1-0 loss to Lyon

PSG missed the few chances they had early and failed to create much late, and were made to pay by a Lyon side that snagged a goal on the break to snatch a 1-0 win at Parc des Princes.

Lyon enjoyed a litany of chances in the first half — including an Alex Lacazette penalty that cannoned off the post. But PSG had some looks of their own, too, with Kylian Mbappe and Vitinha both missing from close range.

The visitors eventually capitalised in the second half, though, with Bradley Barcola finishing a well-worked move. The home side pushed for a way back into the contest, with Messi getting more involved. Still, the Argentine lacked his signature bite in the final third, while Mbappe was nowhere to be found.

By the end of it all, Anthony Lopes barely had a save to make as Lyon rather comfortably saw off a toothless PSG attack. The Parisians will likely still win Ligue 1, but they have now lost five league games in 2023, and at this rate will stagger across the finish line.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Parc des Princes...

Editors' Picks

  1. Goalkeeper & Defence
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    Goalkeeper & Defence

    Gianluigi Donnarumma (5/10):

    Gave away a silly penalty, and was lucky that Lacazette missed. Couldn't do much about the Lyon goal.

    Danilo Pereira (5/10):

    The Portuegese was consistently targeted by the Lyon attack, and he struggled to handle Rayan Cherki.

    Marquinhos (6/10):

    Won his headers, held down a central role. The back line around him was chaotic, though.

    E.C. Bitshiabu (5/10):

    Did OK mostly. Won the ball consistently, relatively comfortable in his distribution. Sacrificed for Fabian Ruiz as PSG went on the attack.

  2. Midfield
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    Midfield

    Achraf Hakimi (4/10):

    Made his first Ligue 1 start since February 4. Expectedly sloppy after such a spell out.

    Vitinha (4/10):

    Fired over while unmarked in the fourth minute. Made the wrong decision in possession a few times.

    Marco Verratti (3/10):

    Poor on the ball, outnumbered off it. Went off after an hour and appeared to gesture to his hamstring as he walked down the tunnel.

    Renato Sanches (4/10):

    Handed a rare opportunity after a series of injuries. Looked off the pace, and was booked for losing his cool.

    Nuno Mendes (4/10):

    Lots of running, tried to support Mbappe. Exposed defensively, especially as the move for Lyon's goal came down his side.

  4. Attack
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    Attack

    Lionel Messi (3/10):

    Booed before the game and sloppy during it. Lost the ball consistently, and was uncharacteristically loose in his passing. One wonderful flick to Mbappe should have handed him his 14th Ligue 1 assist.

    Kylian Mbappe (3/10):

    Missed a good chance early, and tried to do too much after. Nowhere near the same player that he was for France last week.

  5. Subs & Manager
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    Subs & Manager

    Fabian Ruiz (5/10):

    Brought on for a bit more attacking thrust, and didn't offer much.

    Hugo Ekitike (6/10):

    Played through the middle after PSG went behind, and his side benefitted from having more of a proper striker on the pitch.

    Warren Zaire-Emery (N/A):

    Keeps being introduced to effect lost causes — which isn't really his fault.

    Ismael Gharbi (N/A):

    Another teenager thrown on to change things, and can't be blamed for failing to do so.

    Christophe Galtier (3/10):

    Whatever Galtier is saying, it doesn't appear to be working. The manager probably picked his strongest possible side, given injuries. But this PSG team relies on star power, and the stars simply didn't show up today. They have now lost five of their last 13 since the start of 2023 — more than they did all of last year.