PSG vs Maccabi Haifa | -Paris Saint-Germain firmly secured their position in the Champions League round of 16 with a furious offensive display that once again featured Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Lionel Messi in top form.
Even though the visitors put PSG under pressure early on with some aggressive pressing, Lionel Messi scored the game’s opening goal with a beautiful outside-of-the-shoe finish. The Argentinean scored twice before Mbappé and Neymar followed suit in a flurry of aggressive play from the home team’s front three. Despite Haifa’s best efforts to advance, their defence was rendered powerless by a PSG star-led counterattack that was brutal in front of goal and easy to combine in the box.
PSG vs Maccabi Haifa Abdoulaye Seck of Haifa, who almost received a red card for a late challenge on Kylian Mbappé but was fortunate to receive only a yellow, scored an unlikely double with headers on both sides of halftime. The first occurred when Donnarumma was too far out for a free kick, and the second came from a corner header that looped over the Italian goalkeeper, taking advantage of disarray in the PSG defence this time.
With the deficit down to two goals once again, PSG quickly got going again. Mbappé curled in his hat trick following a pinpoint Hakimi pass, and then Neymar’s excellent effort down the left wing resulted in Sean Goldberg’s own goal.
A worn-out Haifa team may have dreaded a worse deficit, but changes and a focus on fitness meant PSG let off just long enough for Carlos Soler to score another with a helper from none other than Lionel Messi.
Players from PSG compared to Maccabi Haifa
(4) Gianluigi Donnarumma was hardly called upon to intervene, but he did step off his line for the first goal scored by the visitors and again for the second.
Achraf Hakimi
PSG vs Maccabi Haifa Achraf Hakimi (score of 6) continued his resurgence with a competent offensive display, reclaiming the right flank. He provided a pinpoint assist for Mbappé’s second goal, which might have been enhanced had he squared the ball for Marquinhos after Neymar put the Brazilian forward through on goal.
5 for Sergio R amos
Marquinhos 5
Juan Bernat 5
6 Fabian Ruiz
In the absence of Marco Verratti, Vitinha commanded the midfield and kept up his impressive start to the year.
(5) Renato Sanches
Lionel Messi
Nine Lionel Messi Again, the Argentine was mesmerising, coming within a whisker of a hat-trick to go with his two assists—one for Neymar and the other for Soler late in the game.
Neymar
PSG vs Maccabi Haifa Neymar scored an 8 because he was as as active as his offensive teammates despite being the only front-three player without a double. The Brazilian was a constant threat to the opposing defence, propelling assaults ahead, although he could have been a little bit more effective in front of goal.
Kylian Mbappé, age eight The guy who was most involved early on in the game and who, if Neymar hadn’t overextended his foot in the face of a practically open goal, may have provided an assist even sooner.PSG vs Maccabi Haifa Even when not directly engaged, he was a vital component of PSG’s offensive; his run that dislodged two defenders was essential to Neymar’s first-half goal.
The Frenchman once again proved that he is very much able to filter out all extraneous distractions when he goes onto the pitch with two stunning curlers into the top right corner for a double.