Lucas Moura Shines for PSG in Bordeaux Win: Winners and Losers in Ligue 1 Game
Paris Saint-Germain secured a second consecutive Ligue 1 win and a third straight in all competitions with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Girondins de Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.
The result puts the French champions three points clear in second place, a provisional four points behind league leaders Olympique de Marseille ahead of their trip to face Olympique Lyonnais.
"0 - PSG have lost none of their last 21 home league games following a European game (W15, D6). Pace.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 25, 2014"
Lucas Moura celebrated his return to the Brazilian national team with two penalties, while substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi added a late third as he made his return from injury after more than a month out.
A feisty affair this one, both sides were down to 10 men by half-time with Gregory van der Wiel seeing red for PSG and Andre Biyogo Poko dismissed for Bordeaux.
Referee Tony Chapron’s questionable decision-making will prompt further scrutiny for French match officials this weekend.
There were no further red cards, but the hosts’ Thiago Motta did pick up a yellow early in the first half. The Italian’s accumulation of bookings means that he is ruled out of “Le Classique” against Marseille next month.
On the positive side, though, Thiago Silva and David Luiz's Ligue 1 debut as a pairing went very well and Blaise Matuidi was as irrepressible as ever in midfield.
Les Parisiens' coach Laurent Blanc declared himself happy with the result and performance, drawing many positives from the performance when speaking with PSG.fr after the match.
"At ten versus ten, it's a lot more difficult and the match suffered. Tonight it was a tough victory, but there are also a lot of positives to come out of it. The players are doing very well at the moment. It was an excellent week, with three wins in a row. We confirmed our good form at the moment, and I'm very happy with the individual and collective performances.
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Here are some winners and losers from PSG’s 3-0 win over Bordeaux.
Winner: Lucas Moura, Who Scored Twice for PSG
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Starting as part of a front three alongside Javier Pastore and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, Lucas was an immediate threat to Bordeaux on their left side.
The Brazilian international made a number of penetrating runs before looking to cut the ball back to a team-mate and it looked like it was only a matter of time before he was involved in a goal.
"4 - @LucasnaRede_ is involved in 4 of PSG's last 5 goals against Bordeaux in Ligue 1 (1 goal, 3 assists). Samba.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 25, 2014"
That eventually proved to be the case, with Lucas showing good composure to score twice from the penalty spot.
The first came about because of a foul on Marco Verratti by young central defensive debutant Cedric Yambere, and the 22-year-old himself won the other. After a sublime clipped ball over the top by Javier Pastore, Lucas was hauled down by Nicolas Pallois and stepped up to score past Cedric Carrasso.
With five goals to his name already, even though two of those have come from the spot, Lucas has already levelled last season’s total goals haul.
Winner: PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi, Who Is Back from Injury with a Bang
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Given 26 minutes at the end of the match, Lavezzi made his return from a month out with a hamstring problem. The Argentinian started to make up for lost time with PSG’s third goal of the evening.
Although clearly some way short of match fitness, El Pocho added pace to Les Parisiens’ front line and scored with his first real chance on goal. Blanc was right to not start the 29-year-old, as his team eventually made light of the absences of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.
The PSG No. 22’s return to fitness sees another valuable first-team option move back into Le President’s plans.
Winner: PSG’s Javier Pastore, Who Was Once Again Outstanding
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After a disappointing performance in the narrow 1-0 away win over APOEL FC in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Pastore responded by putting in a much-improved showing against Bordeaux. Like he has been since the start of the season, the Argentinian playmaker was one of PSG’s best players on the night.
Pastore displayed plenty of neat footwork and intricate touches and could have been the architect of a number of goals. Instead, it was only the one, but it was a superb clipped pass into the path of Lucas to create the second penalty.
Loser: Bordeaux’s Cedric Yambere, Who Endured a Debut to Forget
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Thrown in at the deep end for his senior debut for Bordeaux, it was sink or swim for debutant Yambere. Unfortunately for Les Girondins' coach Willy Sagnol (pictured), it proved to be the former, with the 24-year-old defender looking out of his depth.
Yambere was at fault for the first PSG penalty, fouling Verratti, while he also got a touch on Lavezzi’s third. Drafted in at the last minute, the Bordeaux No. 33 demonstrated why it has taken him this long to be given a chance at senior level.
Loser: PSG’s Gregory Van Der Wiel, Who Will Now Miss Marseille Clash
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After an excellent start to the season, PSG’s Gregory van der Wiel risks losing his place in Blanc’s starting XI after his straight red card 27 minutes into the Bordeaux clash.
Debatable as the decision may have been, it does not change the fact that the Dutch international will now be suspended for three matches.
Van der Wiel’s absence will hand Serge Aurier a chance to prove his credentials, after they took a knock with a poor performance in the 1-1 draw with Toulouse last month.
The Dutchman will at least be in top condition for the important Champions League clashes against APOEL and Ajax at home in November.
However, he will be absent for the showdown encounter with Marseille in Paris.
Loser: Willy Sagnol Who Saw the Limitations of His Bordeaux Team Exposed
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His Bordeaux team's comprehensive defeat showed Willy Sagnol exactly why his players will be unable to keep up their title charge over the course of the season. Up against a weakened PSG side, but also with a few absentees themselves, they failed to even come close to troubling the hosts.
Diego Rolan missed a good chance in the first half after Van der Wiel had been dismissed, but otherwise it was a disappointing performance. Having to play Yambere alongside Pallois in central defence was a far from ideal scenario and Bordeaux's limitations have been reached with two defeats and a draw in their last three league matches.
Sagnol deserves credit for reinvigorating a team that had stagnated under predecessor Francis Gillot, but that rejuvenation will only go so far. Bordeaux will be lucky to finish in the European qualification positions by the end of the season.
Loser: PSG’s Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, Who Was Deprived of His Chance to Shine
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Given a rare start in the absence of Cavani, Bahebeck’s game lasted slightly longer than Van der Wiel’s. Substituted in order to bring Aurier into the game, it proved to be the right decision from Blanc, albeit harsh on the young Frenchman.
Bahebeck will now need to wait patiently for his next chance to step up and contribute after an impressive recent run of form. However, he is unlikely to receive many like this one with Cavani returning from suspension for the trip to face FC Lorient next weekend.
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