Christophe Galtier had announced a boiling match in which his team should immerse themselves completely to hope to continue their beautiful series of invincibility. He was right and the mission was completed perfectly. Admittedly, the score remained tight for a long time. Mbappé served by Messi had found the opening (1-0, 25th). But despite an increasingly degraded lawn and well helped by the awkwardness and poor choices of the Corsicans, the Parisians ended up making their talent speak for themselves thanks to Messi and Mbappé, who are still just as inspired. Passers then scorers in turn, in the 79th for Messi then in the 82nd for Mbappé.
The announcer of the François-Coty stadium had probably exaggerated a little but he had summed up the feeling shared by the Corsican supporters before welcoming PSG. Addressing the 11,000 spectators, he urged them to make more noise: “All the cameras in the world are turned towards our team! Symbolically, he was right and it is true that a lot of eyes were directed towards Corsica for this fall meeting, disputed in spring, even summer, weather. We were waiting to know how PSG, without Ramos and Neymar suspended, without Mendes and Danilo injured, or even Kimpembe a little tight, was going to negotiate this tricky trip to the promoted.
Fabian Ruiz more and more comfortable
In any case, the scene was set upon arrival at the stadium when, despite the escort, the Parisian coach had been delayed by traffic jams and where the driver had to do it twice to succeed in reversing the middle of Corsican supporters and CRS. The scene was spectacular, as were the intrusions of young Corsican supporters on… four occasions to greet Messi. Once during the warm-up and then during the match where two of them ran for a hug and even a selfie with the Argentinian while the announcer, at the request of the referee, had taken the microphone to stop these disturbances.
In the end, the Corsicans will hardly have endangered Donnarumma protected once again by a four-man defense. It took until the 71st minute to witness Ajaccio’s first shot on target. On the other hand, the Parisians, led in particular by a Fabian Ruiz who was more and more comfortable in the diamond-shaped midfield where Soler replaced Neymar, had many opportunities to worsen the score. As too often lately, they have long lacked realism and let their opponent hope for an equalizer. Ruiz (22nd, 45th + 2), Bernat (48th) or Sanches (51st) had their chance. But it was Mbappé who missed the target the most. Three times (36th, 42nd, 57th) he will have had the opportunity to overtake Neymar at the top of the scoring charts. But his shots fled the frame until the goal late in the game.
This undoubtedly deprived Christophe Galtier of carrying out a greater rotation in order to manage the organizations when four games in two weeks are looming, starting with the reception of Haifa on Tuesday in the Champions League. But Parisians can return from Corsica with a sense of duty well done.
Match sheet
Half time: 0-1. Referee: Mr. Hamel.
Buts : Mbappe (25th, 82nd), Messi (79th).
Warning. PSG: Verratti (22nd).
Ajaccio: Leroy – Youssouf, Gonzalez, Avinel, Cone (Diallo, 74th) – Bayala, Marchetti, Coutadeur (cap.), Belaili (Mangani, 84th) – El Idrissy (Alphonse, 74th), Moussiti-Oko. Entr. : Pants
PSG : Donnarumma – Hakimi, Mukiele, Marquinhos (cap., Bitshiabu, 83e), Bernat – F. Ruiz (Zaïre-Emery, 83e), Verratti, Sanches (Vitinha, 62e) – Messi, Soler (Sarabia, 71e), Mbappé (Ekitike, 83e). in : Galtier.