Malmo vs. PSG: Winners and Losers from Champions League Game
Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s emotional return to hometown club Malmo FF ended in a 5-0 win for the French champions.
The Swede bagged himself a goal at Swedbank Stadion five minutes into the second half, but Laurent Blanc’s men were already 2-0 up by that point thanks to goals from Adrien Rabiot and Angel Di Maria.
The Argentina international made it 4-0 with 22 minutes to go, before Ibrahimovic generously allowed Lucas Moura to put the icing on his cake with a superb fifth direct from a free kick. Shortly after that, the 34-year-old left the pitch to rapturous applause.
The thrashing of Malmo means PSG have now mathematically qualified for the last 16 with a game to spare and the Ligue 1 leaders' coach, Blanc, was happy with the result and performance when speaking with Canal+ (h/t PSG.fr) after the final whistle.
"We approached this match very responsibly, with the determination necessary to put Malmö in difficulty. In 15 minutes, we managed to kill off the match by scoring two goals. At that moment, our opponents realised it was going to be very difficult to foil our plans. We've qualified and that's the main thing. We didn't manage to take top spot in the group - even though we did have the means to do so - but we're getting more and more powerful. Tonight's performance was very neat.
"
Here are some winners and losers from Les Parisiens’ 5-0 win in Sweden.
Winner: Angel Di Maria
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After being rested for PSG’s 2-1 win away at FC Lorient last Saturday because of a knock picked up on international duty with Argentina, Angel Di Maria looked reinvigorated in Malmo.
El Fideo scored two very well-taken goals as he once again proved his value to Blanc’s side on the biggest stage.
Di Maria’s first was a calm finish in off the post from an excellent, low Blaise Matuidi cross from the left. The second was a rare header from an inch-perfect Maxwell delivery after the Argentina international had started the move outside the box.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a good start to life in Paris, but it is in the Champions League where he has been particularly impressive.
Di Maria has three goals from his five appearances in Europe so far, all against Malmo, while he was also outstanding in PSG’s unlucky 1-0 defeat away at Real Madrid last time out.
Loser: Markus Rosenberg
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It was a night to forget for Malmo’s Markus Rosenberg as one of the city’s other famous sons was put in the shade by the most celebrated one.
Nothing went right for the 33-year-old, who picked up a booking in the first half for a late challenge on Maxwell.
It would only get worse for Rosenberg. The Sweden international saw his second-half penalty crash back off the post.
Winner: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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This match was always going to be about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the occasion called for a goal from the Swede.
It took 50 minutes, but it finally arrived and the PSG captain for the night—thanks to a kind gesture from regular skipper Thiago Silva—enjoyed rapturous applause as he made his way off the pitch after 85 minutes.
Ibrahimovic’s involvement did not stop at the goal though. The Sweden international played important roles in the buildup to Rabiot’s opener and Di Maria’s first, while he also left the free kick to Lucas that the Brazilian scored from.
Zlatan’s goal brings him level with George Weah as PSG’s joint top scorer in European competition with 16 goals and it was also his 45th in the competition, taking him into the all-time top-10 list of scorers.
Ibrahimovic has now scored 15 goals in his last 16 matches for club and country in this current vein of impressive form.
Loser: Edinson Cavani
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Rosenberg was not the only striker having an off night on the Swedbank Stadion pitch on Wednesday. PSG’s Edinson Cavani also had a 90-minute outing to forget in Sweden.
The Uruguay international’s recent run of poor form continued, as he contributed little of note. El Matador’s best chance came late in the first half, when he hit the outside of the post, but even then he probably should have passed with Matuidi positioned well in the middle of the box.
Cavani also could have laid on quick-fire fourth for PSG moments after Ibrahimovic made it 3-0, but the South American’s hesitance on the ball allowed the chance to pass.
Considering he was benched for the 2-1 win away at Lorient last Saturday to allow him to recover after the recent international break, perhaps an extended spell on the bench without the excuse of resting is what is needed to get the 28-year-old firing once again.
Winner: Adrien Rabiot
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It has been a good last few weeks for Adrien Rabiot, and the France under-21 international continued his recent good form with another impressive display in PSG’s 5-0 win over Malmo.
The 20-year-old scored with a firm headed effort from an excellent Gregory van der Wiel cross after just three minutes and then built on his first-ever Champions League goal with a mature display.
Rabiot was superb when he came on away at Real, despite the 1-0 defeat, and the young midfielder followed that up with a good showing in the 5-0 mauling of Toulouse in Ligue 1.
This performance should ensure that the PSG No. 25 keeps his place for the visit of ESTAC Troyes in Le Championnat on Saturday.
Loser: Gregory van der Wiel
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The game started so well for Gregory van der Wiel in Malmo. After just three minutes, the Netherlands international crossed perfectly for Rabiot to head home for his third assist from his last three appearances for PSG across all competitions.
However, it was all downhill from there. A series of poor decisions to shoot when well placed to cross or pass let him down going forward, while he was made to suffer in defence as well.
Van der Wiel was given a torrid time at the back, summed up by Jo Inge Berget’s ability to turn the Dutchman inside out when running through on goal before Kevin Trapp stopped him with a superb low save.
It was a chance for Van der Wiel to impress in Serge Aurier’s absence and although the 27-year-old notched an assist, he was otherwise underwhelming.
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