Youth League: held in check (3-3) by PSV Eindhoven, the young Parisians do not advance

Spectacle, goals and a draw which does not suit anyone… Forced to react after two setbacks against Girona (0-2) and Arsenal (0-1), the PSG Espoirs continue to stand still in Youth League, unable to beat PSV Eindhoven (3-3), who also suffered two defeats during their first outings in the competition. There was room, however, to score a first success, but too much waste and largely avoidable defensive errors deprived David Suarez’s men of a better result.

The start of the match, initiated by the Dutch, must not have pleased Luis Campos, present in the stands to watch the match. After a first dangerous shot from Van den Berg, PSV opened the scoring through Kuit (0-1, 7th), left five minutes later due to injury. The reinforcement of Ibrahim Mbaye, used to professional games this season, brought a little dynamism to the left wing, but it was on the other side that the charge came after a good job by ‘Ayari headed by Khafi (1-1, 19th).

“We felt contraction and stress compared to our youth”

This goal should have launched them, but while the Parisians had regained momentum, Merien with a good header gave PSV the advantage (1-2, 38th). It was there that Sangaré decided to come out of hiding to take out the jewel of the afternoon. With a missile into the opposite corner, he sent the goalkeeper to torture for the equalizer before the break (2-2, 40th). A goal which restored confidence to the whole group, much more convincing after returning from the locker room.

“There were emotional ups and downs,” notes David Suarez, coach of the Parisian U19s. Our start to the match was a little frustrating, we felt contraction and stress compared to our youth. Because it must be remembered, we have the youngest team in the Youth League. The boys were engaged throughout the match, supportive and generous. There were some positives, we also need to work on set pieces. We could have won all three points, but we are evolving. »

The player: Yanis Khafi

This Tuesday at the PSG Campus, Yanis Khafi started for the first time in the Youth League. Coming into play four times in the competition, the midfielder honored this start by scoring twice. First by heading at the far post, a blocked shot from Adam Ayari for the Parisian equalizer (1-1, 20th). Then remaining on the lookout to catch a ball pushed back by the PSV goalkeeper at the penalty spot (3-2, 63rd), before being replaced a minute later. Absent from the starting eleven during the first two European matches of the season, the midfielder under professional trainee contract, who is being courted by the Algerian and Moroccan selections, has certainly scored points in view of the next match… against Atlético Madrid, on November 6.

The number: 0

Held in check on home turf by PSV Eindhoven (0-0), Paris obtained its first in the Youth League. This is the first time since the creation of the competition that the capital club has not won any of its first three matches.