PLAYER RATINGS | Saint-Étienne 1-6 PSG: Rampant Parisiens take step closer to 13th Ligue 1 title | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 27, 29/03/25

Paris Saint-Germain took a step closer to a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title with an ultimately very comfortable victory over AS Saint-Étienne (6-1) at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard. Following Olympique de Marseille’s earlier defeat, the trophy could be theirs tonight if AS Monaco and OGC Nice draw in the Derby de la Côte d’Azur.

The Match

Les Verts came out swinging. The hosts dominated the opening exchanges with their intense pressure that kept a much-rotated PSG side unsettled and making errors on the ball. It was well-deserved when Saint-Étienne found the opener in the 9th minute of the match. A tidy bit of one-touch play culminated in Zuriko Davitashvili’s cross finding Lucas Stassin, who headed past Matvei Safonov.

Les Parisiens struggled to find their usual rhythm. Luis Enrique had opted for an experimental three-at-the-back system, which left them exposed in transition. Slowly, the machine would kick into gear, but it felt more fragile than the all-conquering force that we’ve come to expect this season.

They had chances to find the equaliser, but it would come from a mistake as Florian Tardieu’s late tackle tripped Gonçalo Ramos in the box. The Portuguese striker stepped up to the spot and fired home into the top right-hand corner. Saint-Étienne’s heads didn’t drop, and just before the half-time whistle, they launched a counter, finding Stassin in a magnificent position. However, the striker’s shot couldn’t beat the onrushing Safonov.

They had chances to find the equaliser, but it would come from a mistake as Florian Tardieu’s late tackle tripped Gonçalo Ramos in the box. The Portuguese striker stepped up to the spot and fired home into the top right-hand corner. Saint-Étienne’s heads didn’t drop, and just before the half-time whistle, they launched a counter, finding Stassin in a magnificent position. However, the striker’s shot couldn’t beat the onrushing Safonov.

Saint-Étienne had been brave in the first half, but that bravery was now leading to mistakes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia read the intentions of the centre-back Mickael Nade and intercepted his pass. The winger then strode into the box, cut back to lose Nade and fired home to give PSG the lead. A few minutes later, Désiré Doué would pick the pocket of Irvin Cardona, then pick his spot to make it three.

In a 16-minute stretch, PSG had gained total control as they recorded their fourth of the evening. PSG’s out-of-possession play was too good, as Fabián Ruiz dispossessed Dylan Batubinsika and set Bradley Barcola free. The winger’s cross slid past Ramos and found João Neves to make it four. Désiré Doué would continue the misery as he sauntered past the Sainté defence and then powered a shot past Gautier Larsonneur.

Such was PSG’s lead that Luis Enrique finally turned to his bench to bring on Presnel Kimpembe for his first Ligue 1 appearance since February 2023. The centre-back was provided the captain’s armband as he finally completed a long recovery from an Achilles injury. There would be time for one more goal as PSG made it 6-1. Barcola would play the creator again as he drifted into the box and found the 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye to provide him his first ever professional goal.

PSG Player Ratings

Matvei Safonov – 5

Gianluigi Donnarumma was rested, and it was a chance for the summer singing to strut his stuff. He didn’t cover himself in glory for Saint-Étienne’s opener but did far better to prevent Lucas Stassin from registering his second on the stroke of half-time.

Lucas Hernandez – 5

Willian Pacho – 7

Replaced by Nuno Mendes in the 64th minute.

Lucas Beraldo – 4

Replaced by Presnel Kimpembe in the 78th minute.

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 5

Replaced by Vitinha in the 57th minute.

João Neves – 7

Fabiàn Ruiz – 7

Désiré Doué – 8

The ‘Neymar Regen‘ had quite a few strange moments and poor passes in the first half that seemed to kill the momentum. However, like the rest of the squad, the second half was far more impressive. Doué was a defensive menace that looked to counter-press, and when he was on the ball, he was either making incisive passes or terrorising the defence with his tricky footwork.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 7

Replaced by Ousmane Dembélé in the 64th minute.

Gonçalo Ramos – 7

Replaced by Ibrahim Mbaye in the 78th minute.

Bradley Barcola – 7

It was a quiet first half, but far more life in the second. His two assists mean that the winger goes level with former Olympique Lyonnais teammate Rayan Cherki as the player with the most assists in the league (9).

Saint-Étienne Selected Player Ratings

Gautier Larsonneur – 2

Mickael Nade – 2

Lucas Stassin – 6

GFFN | Nick Hartland