Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain are into the Coupe de France semifinals after a 3-0 win over Dijon at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Angel Di Maria helped himself to two goals, including a superb chipped opener, while Thomas Meunier added a third after being teed up by cult hero Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Positives
Record 12-time Coupe de France winners PSG are into a 20th Coupe de France semifinal, so the win was an important one. The style was also notable, particularly with a number of key players being rewarded with a breather after a gruelling start to 2019.
The support afforded Choupo-Moting during a difficult spell in front of goal was also worthy of praise, the entire stadium getting behind the Cameroon international and singing his name for a good five minutes in a bid to boost his confidence. He responded with the late assist for Meunier’s strike.
Negatives
The intensity dropped a bit after the second goal and it never really returned until the latter stages of the match. Then again, PSG were already two goals up and always looked comfortable, so Thomas Tuchel will not be complaining too much.
Manager rating out of 10
6 – Tuchel rotated well again and showed his tactical flexibility with a 3-4-3 formation that created stylish play in patches despite the lack of star power.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Gianluigi Buffon, 6 — Alert when he needed to be but largely untroubled over the course of the 90 minutes.
DF Thilo Kehrer, 6 — Solid enough as part of a three-man central defensive unit but Dijon did not exactly do much pressing.
DF Thiago Silva (c), 7 — Authoritative when he had to be, he marshalled the backline well and helped to keep things tight.
DF Presnel Kimpembe, 6 — Making his 100th official appearance for PSG, he enjoyed a relatively stress-free outing alongside Silva and Kehrer.
MF Thomas Meunier, 6 — In need of a confidence boost after losing his starting role and taking a bad knock, he got his pick me up with a late goal as part of a decent overall display.
MF Leandro Paredes, 6 — Starting to gel with Marco Verratti in the middle, PSG are starting to boast a proper midfield pairing again.
MF Marco Verratti, 7 — Booked in the first half and lucky that it was not deemed worse, he was technically very good as he and Paredes continue to bond.
MF Juan Bernat, 6 — Worked tirelessly on the left and chipped in going forward when he could. Just the latest example of why Tuchel feels so comfortable with him on the pitch.
FW Julian Draxler, 7 — Teed up Di Maria’s sublime opener as part of a made to measure display that accentuated his creative nous.
FW Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, 6 — Although he did not get the goal that he and the Parc des Princes crowd craved, he did provide Meunier’s late effort, worked hard and always put the team before his personal goal drought.
FW Angel Di Maria, 8 — The author of two goals, one much prettier than the other, it was an impressive outing from a man who goes from strength to strength under Tuchel’s leadership.
Substitutes
FW Christopher Nkunku, N/R — Replaced Draxler for the final 10 or so minutes and was not far away from writing his name on the score sheet.
DF Colin Dagba, N/R — Relieved Paredes for the last eight minutes and helped to reinforce the defence — not that it needed it.
FW Moussa Diaby, N/R — Energetic in his eight-minute run out, he threatened to score or create a fourth for the hosts as the visitors willed away the final moments.