Ligue 2: canceled by Pau (1-1), Paris FC marks time
The international break comes at the right time for Paris FC, decimated by numerous injuries (7) and where some players seem out of breath. For the clash with leader Toulouse on April 2, the staff should recover absentees and mentally and physically fresher players. Paris FC ended this very complicated week with a small point against Pau (1-1) after its sinking Tuesday in Nancy (3-0). He will be satisfied with it. If Toulouse escaped, the Parisian club retains its second place with a point ahead of AC Ajaccio (3rd) and two on Auxerre (4th). But it will be necessary to show another face during the final of the 8-game sprint to maintain this position advantageously synonymous with a direct climb.
What you must remember
As expected, Thierry Laurey had returned to a more classic team in 4-2-3-1 but with two innovations: the tenure (the 2nd this season in the league) of Yoan Koré (17 years old) and the repositioning of Maxime Bernauer in the side left, Jaouen Hadjam playing a notch higher. Admittedly, it was better than Tuesday in Nancy – hard to do worse – but Paris FC sorely lacked precision in their passes, rhythm and intensity in the first period. And he was very poor in terms of offensive animation. His number of shots (4 including 1 on target) is revealing. Only (small) shivers, the curled shot above Hadjam (24th) and the free kick from Moustapha Name in the small net (45th + 2).
It doesn’t get better on recovery. Samir Chergui must save on the line after a small festival of El Melali (56th). And on a cross from Koffi, Romain Armand, top scorer for Paris FC in 2019-2020 (7 goals), crucified his former teammate Vincent Demarconnay (0-1, 60th). The Parisians are not there at all. Laurey makes three changes. They will wake up the team and the stadium. Pau is finally put under pressure. After placing a recovery just above (70th), Khalid Boutaïb equalized on penalty (1-1, 79th). This is his 4th goal in 7 games since signing for the PFC on January 31. The Parisians end up the strongest, but fail to deceive Bajic, the international hopeful on loan from Saint-Étienne. Given their poor performance for more than 70 minutes, they did not end up doing too badly with this draw (1-1).
Player: Jonathan Iglesias
Like last Saturday against Niort, the midfielder, saved Tuesday in Nancy to avoid a card, still played a full game. On saw him at the forefront of the fight, always present in recovery. He also threw himself forward whenever he could. It is he who prints lety of the equalizer (79th).
The number: 6
Paris FC got their 6th penalty in the last 9 games. He transformed them all with Morgan Guilavogui (3), Khalid Boutaïb (2) and Moustapha Name (in two stages).
The reaction
“You have to be honest, our first half was poor. When you lack speed, it’s difficult to disrupt such a well-organized team. We knew that if we accomplished a goal, we could be in trouble. We have been. But we changed our way of playing a bit, which allowed us to obtain a penalty and to have situations at the end of the match. But we lacked the feet (sic) to put good balls in the area. We get away with a point. It’s always a taken point. It’s not the holy grail but we’re happy with it. Psychologically, it was important not to lose. I am happy with the reaction of the boys who made the effort to come back. As long as we have not found our vital forces, we know that it will be complicated. You have to bend over backwards, try to score points while waiting for the injured to return. There are no major concerns. » Thierry Laurey coach of Paris FC
match sheet
PARIS FC-PAU 1-1 (0-0).
Spectators: 3,275.
Referee: Mr. Landry.
Corn. Paris FC: Boutaib (79th sp); Paul: Armand (60th).
Warnings. Paris FC: Koré (17th), Hadjam (51st); Paul: Armand (84th).
FC Paris : Demarconnay – Koré (Camara, 71st), Chergui, Kanté (cap.), Bernauer – Siby, Iglésias – Gory (Lopez, 60th), Name (Mandouki, 71st), Hadjam (Beaka, 71st) – Boutaïb. Entrance: Laurey.
Paul: Bajic – Koffi, Kouassi, Batisse (cap.), Boto – Poha, Sylvestre (Naïdji, 90th), Lobry (Daubin, 71st) – El Melali (Jean-Lambert, 71), Essende, Armand (Dembelé, 90th). Entry: Tholot.