Toulouse – Paris Saint-Germain: A Routine For The Parisians (3-6)

Resounding victory for Luis Enrique’s boys. The third in three matches and making it clear that their football remained intact: a true positional game well executed.

Tactical analysis and match report by Juan Lauz.

Second away match for Paris Saint-Germain and, perhaps, their toughest match so far, in a curious duel between Spanish managers. Toulouse had started strong in this Ligue 1 season; coached by Spaniard Carles Martínez Novell (in his third season in charge), they began with two wins against Nice and Brest, a perfect score that had them tied with their Parisian rival.

To continue on this winning path and begin to aspire to more than the mid-table finish they had last season (tenth place), Les Violets kept their usual 3-4-3 with the ball, although presumably with a low block in a 5-4-1 setup.

A defense formed by Mark McKenzie, Charlie Cresswell, and Rasmus Nicolaisen, flanked by wingbacks Dayann Methalie and Djibril Sidibé. In the second line, as a double pivot, Mario Sauer and Cristian Cásseres, with Yann Gboho and Aron Donnum out wide. Alone up front, as a center-forward, Frank Magri.

For their part, Luis Enrique’s men lined up some of their usual key players, with some changes, such as the absence of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wing, or the inclusion of Ilya Zabarnyi in defense alongside Lucas Beraldo. Then, the rest of the usual XI with fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, and the fantastic midfield three of Vitinha at the base, and Joao Neves and Fabián Ruíz as theoretical interiors. On the wings Dessire Doué and Bradley Barcola, with . . .