Matveï Safonov preferred to Lucas Chevalier as Intercontinental Cup win sparks PSG keeper debate | OneFootball

Matveï Safonov was again preferred to Lucas Chevalier and delivered a sensational penalty shootout in Doha, saving four to clinch the Intercontinental Cup and reignite PSG’s goalkeeping debate.

The 26-year-old read takers to the right, left and down the middle, aided by notes on his towel, as Paris claimed their 6th trophy of the season. It was an exceptional session, arguably among the most memorable by a keeper in recent years.

Team-mates hailed him. Warren Zaire-Emery highlighted his readiness, quality and team-first attitude, while Nuno Mendes described him as outstanding on and off the pitch. Safonov had already been decisive in last season’s cup at Lens, a 1-1 draw followed by a 4-3 win on penalties.

The Russian’s display capped a run of three impressive matches and could reshape the pecking order. Asked about the hierarchy, Luis Enrique brushed the subject aside on the night.

Chevalier, a 55 M€ recruit, now faces a delicate moment. He and Illia Zabarnyi were the only Paris players not to rush to Safonov after the shootout. A fierce competitor, Chevalier is unlikely to yield easily, and a new two-keeper stand-off, reminiscent of Keylor Navas and Gianluigi Donnarumma in 2021, could yet surface in 2026.

Source: L'Équipe