FEATURE | Three things we learned as PSG sink Tottenham Hotspur in 8-goal Champions League thriller | OneFootball

PSG defeated Tottenham Hotspur on Matchday 5 of the Champions League (5-3) courtesy of Vitinha’s first hat-trick for Les Parisiens.

Defensive mistakes an area of concern

Much of the onus on the Champions League winners focused on their ability to break teams open in the context of endless injuries sustained by their key performers up front, such as Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué. But the defensive side should very much be an area of concern for Luis Enrique.

Costly lapses of concentration were already on show last time out against Bayern Munich with Luis Diaz just breezing past Marquinhos. The Brazilian centre-back’s awareness was questionable again in allowing his fellow countryman Richarlison heading home from close range. But Richarlison’s opener also stood out due to Nuno Mendes’ poor positioning and the easiness with which Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray bypassed Willian Pacho.

The Spurs also opened the scoring with their first shot on target, which surely won’t do any good to Lucas Chevalier’s confidence. The France international had a moment of madness in the second half, wandering in no man’s land from a corner kick which ultimately allowed Randal Kolo Muani to score against his parent club. 

Randal Kolo Muani shines against his parent club

The former Nantes centre-forward’s PSG spell was so dull, with a meagre tally of 11 goals in 18 months, that you’d be forgiven if you forgot the France international was still a PSG player in the first place, and under contract until 2028. Kolo Muani made sure Parc des Princes remembered him with an industrious shift.

The 26-year-old cleverly put it on a plate for Richarlison’s opener before powering home his first goal for Spurs with a powerful strike to restore’s the Premier League side’s lead. The France international even halved the deficit after taking advantage of a rare mistake from Vitinha. Two goals and one assist is the kind of output Kolo Muani never produced for PSG, but he did just that at Parc des Princes.

Vitinha magic further highlights PSG strikers’ dip in form

PSG head coach Luis Enrique rose eyebrows again with his team selection with the inclusion of 18-year-old Academy prospect Quentin Ndjantou, which speaks volumes of the status of Gonçalo Ramos’ status within the squad. For long spells in the second half, PSG lacked the incisiveness to carve open Tottenham’s deep block with Bradley Barcola again fading under the Champions League floodlights.

Then, Vitinha happened. With two strokes of uncut magic, the Portuguese maestro restored parity twice when PSG needed the most, just before half-time and right after Kolo Muani’s first goal. The captain completed a hat-trick from the penalty spot, stepping up to make amends after allowing Tottenham a way back into the game. No PSG player had had more goal contributions this season than the former Wolves midfielder.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval