Yohan Cabaye Proving His Worth as PSG Advance Past Bordeaux in Coupe De France
Paris Saint-Germain made it into the last 16 of the Coupe de France thanks to a 2-1 win over Girondins de Bordeaux at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. Edinson Cavani scored his second goal in as many appearances after being welcomed back into the fold, while Javier Pastore added a second to send Laurent Blancโs men cruising by half-time.
An early Diego Rolan effort in the second half saw the French championsโ advantage cut in half, but PSG ultimately did enough to hold on and book their place in the last 16 of the competition. In doing so, Les Parisiens better last seasonโs display that saw them crash out 2-1 at home to Montpellier HSC.
Blanc rang the changes ahead of Sundayโs crunch Ligue 1 clash away at AS Saint-Etienne, leaving just two playersโcaptain Thiago Silva and goalscorer Pastoreโin the starting XI. The result was an excellent first half performance followed by a dip in defensive concentration at the start of the second.
Luckily for Le President and his players, those excellent opening 45 minutes were enough to ensure that it was the eight-time winners who advanced despite Zoumana Camaraโs late red card.
One of the outstanding performers on the night was PSGโs Yohan Cabaye. The French international has been making the most of his opportunities since the start of 2015 and put in another encouraging display against Bordeaux.
It was Cabayeโs wonderful diagonal ball that found the impressive Lucas Digne on the left, and his fellow French international teed up Cavaniโs headed opener with an inch-perfect cross.
The 29-year-old then went on the pull the strings for the hosts as the game progressed, putting in a solid 85 minutes in place of Thiago Motta as the deep-lying defensive midfielder. It is a role Cabaye is familiar with, as he plays in it with the French national team, and the display will give Blanc something to consider over the next few weeks.
Motta will almost certainly start the crunch Saint-Etienne clash on Sunday night, but the Italian could struggle once again to showcase his best form. PSGโs No. 8 has rarely shown the same impressive level of performance that he did in the French capital last season, so Cabaye could get more chances to impress in the coming matches.
Blanc has shown that he is not afraid to address underperforming stars in this PSG side, and Motta will be no exception. The problem, until now, is that the French tactician has not really had a genuine in-form alternative to the Azzurri man.
Now, though, Cabayeโs recent improvement makes him a more credible alternative to Motta and increases the competition that the 32-year-old faces for what was previously considered his exclusive position on the pitch.
Cabaye has impressed in the Coupe de la Ligue win away at Montpellier, the 4-2 Ligue 1 defeat away at SC Bastia and now this victory over Bordeaux too.
Key to these recent encouraging displays has been an improved range of passing and the Frenchmanโs ability to play the role of architect in a couple of the team's goals, notably Lucas Mouraโs in Bastia and Cavaniโs against Bordeaux.
What Cabaye needs to do now is continue to play with the same consistency and take every opportunity that comes his way. With PSG still alive on all four fronts, the French international will be given greater game time.
Assuming that Mottaโs form does not dramatically pick upโsomething that looks highly likely at presentโthen Cabayeโs claims to a more regular starting role will grow and grow.
The PSG No. 4 still has a way to go before he proves himself worth the money that the French giants paid for him, but he was good against Bordeaux and has impressed in all of his performances since the turn of the year.
Perhaps Cabaye does have a future at PSG after all.
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