Paris Saint-Germain – AS Saint-Étienne: Mbappé Injury Looms Large In PSG Coupe De France Win (1-0)

An early goal from Neymar and Loïc Perrin being sent off mid-way through the first half for a ghastly challenge that injured Kylian Mbappé, defined the Coupe de France final between Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Étienne. A man and a goal up, PSG struggled to assert their usual brand of dominance and in the end had to settle for a muted 1-0 victory.
Tactical analysis and match report by K.T. Stockwell. 

It was mid-March last time Paris Saint-Germain were involved in a competitive fixture - a match that ended in a cathartic victory over Borussia Dortmund in an empty Parc des Prince. Since that time France’s clubs, PSG included, have been forced to wait and watch as the rest of Europe played out their seasons. Therefore, it is only fitting that France would make its way back to the pitch with a Coupe de France final featuring two of the country’s most prestigious clubs.

With another Ligue 1 championship under his belt, PSG manager Thomas Tuchel maintained the 4-2-2-2 formation that served him so well throughout the bulk of the 2019/20 season. An injury to Juan Bernat kept the Spanish fullback out of the lineup; he was replaced by former Ajax youth player Mitchel Bakker. Meanwhile, in midfield, Leandro Paredes was given the start ahead of Marco Verratti - playing alongside Idrissa Gueye. In defense, Thiago Silva was given the nod at center-back – paired with the omnipresent Marquinhos.

In terms of sporting performances, the 2019/20 season was one to forget for Saint-Étienne, who stumbled . . .