PSG vs Marseille: Player ratings as PSG triumph in Trophée des Champions Clash

Paris Saint-Germain claimed the first trophy of the year in dramatic fashion after a penalty shootout against Marseille. Lucas Chevalier delivered an outstanding performance and saved two penalties during the shootout lifting his side over their rivals as the Parisians opened the year adding another trophy to their tally.

Player ratings: PSG vs Marseille, Trophée des Champions

Lucas Chevalier – 8.5

A fine display from Chevalier, which was in fact quite possibly his best performance in PSG colours so far. A good early save from Leonardo Balerdi’s point blank header from a corner set the mood, before he came up trumps again, stopping Emerson’s shot just minutes later, keeping PSG ahead in the first half. A spectacular double save early in the second half demonstrated both the Frenchman’s reflexes and his bravery. He did concede the penalty that led to Marseille’s equaliser, but made up for it with two excellent saves in the eventual shootout. PSG fans will hope this is a turning point for Chevalier, who impressed both in normal time and in the spot kick session.

Warren Zaire Emery - 5

A difficult game for the young Frenchman, who struggled at times to contain Igor Paixão and who, along with Right centre-back Marquinhos, looked slightly ill at ease with the Marseille attackers. Also struggled at times to provide any real attacking threat from the back, which is unfortunate as the full-backs are usually such a key part of PSG’s attacking patterns. It isn’t Zaire Emery’s natural position, which is important to remember, but he certainly has to improve both sides of his game if he is to play right-back in important Champions League encounters.

Marquinhos - 5

In fairness to Marquinhos, he’s struggled a lot with injury this season, and has only just returned from his latest setback. He did, however, look a bit slow at times (not for the first time this season). It feels as though perhaps he’s lost half a yard of pace, and it often felt as though he was second to react to a lot of loose balls in the box. Will hopefully be played back into form, as regular minutes should see him regain some of the sharpness that’s currently missing from his game.

William Pacho - 6

A mostly solid display from the Ecuadorian, whose unfortunate, but almost unavoidable own goal will but put a dampener on his night. He compensated for that error with some brilliant 1v1 defending vs Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the death to keep PSG in it.

Nuno Mendes – 6.5

Not Mendes’s greatest performance, and he could and arguably should have scored in the first half following Kvaratskhelia’s neat cutback. Was impressive on the ball and usual, and always provided threat from the flanks. Did his job in the shoot-out as well.

Vitinha - 8

Two elegant passes from Vitinha made the difference and created both goals. An instinctive lofted ball into Dembélé for PSG’s opener showcased how quickly the Portugese midfielder can make the difference. He also came up clutch at the end of the game, creating the Parisian’s second goal as well, intelligently spotting substitute Bradley Barcola’s run, before feeding him a perfectly weighted lofted through ball. Scored his penalty in the shoot-out.

Fabian Ruiz – 6.5

Ruiz mostly kept things ticking, looking comfortable on the ball, solid defensively and making the type of late runs into the box that have typified his PSG resurgence. He was replaced by PSG’s eventual saviour, Gonçalo Ramos.

Joao Neves – 6.5

Had a big second half chance after being picked out by Doué, but scuffed his shot straight at Gerónimo Rulli in net for Marseille. Although perhaps slightly more wasteful with possession than usual, it was still an overall solid performance from the impressive young midfielder.

Désiré Doué – 7.5

A frustrating first half from the PSG starlet, who was visibly frustrated when he felt as though his Ballon D’or winning teammate Dembélé should have picked him out instead of going for goal himself. He was a threat throughout, hitting the post with a rocket in the 61st minute, and almost creating the aforementioned goal for Neves. He stepped up to cooly dispatch the winning penalty in the eventual shoot-out as well.

Ousmane Dembélé – 7.5

A very well taken opening goal from the Ballon D’or winner, who seems to have finally rediscovered his shooting boots as he dispatched a delicate dink almost reminiscent of his former teammate Lionel Messi past the hapless Rulli in the first half. Dembélé looked sharp throughout: there is a real sense that he’s coming back towards the sort of form that saw him accomplish so much in the second half of last season, and if that is the case and he manages to stay injury free, PSG fans could be in for a real treat over the next few months.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 7

Another fairly quiet performance from the Georgian, whose recent displays have perhaps at times lacked a bit of decisiveness. Looked at his best in the first half when he created a fine opportunity for Nuno Mendes, following some impressive close control. Was substituted quite early for Barcola.

Subs:

Bradley Barcola

A good cameo in which Barcola made the difference from the bench, serenely and unselfishly heading the ball across goal for Ramos to smash home.

Senny Mayulu – N/A

Gonçalo Ramos

A brilliant impact once again from the striker who just seems to have a habit of scoring big goals off the bench. Slotted his penalty in the shoot-out as well.