Paris Saint-Germain don show Liverpool pepper for Parc des Princes today. The Champions League quarter-final first leg see PSG win 2-0, and Liverpool dey look like dem no even ready for the fight. From the beginning, PSG dey control the game pass Liverpool.
Desire Doue na the one wey start the trouble for PSG. Him just collect ball from outside box, shoot am, the ball deflect small, fly over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili enter net. Early lead like that don set the tone. Liverpool players dey look confused, dem no fit hold ball well at all.
First half statistics dey show say PSG dey dominate pass Liverpool. According to UEFA, PSG complete 332 passes, Liverpool only manage 88. Vitinha alone for PSG complete 68 passes, while for Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai na the highest with just 13 passes. The difference clear like daylight.
Second half come, PSG still dey press Liverpool. Ousmane Dembele get chance to make am 2-0 after Nuno Mendes cut-back reach him, but him fire the ball over the bar. Wasteful chance, but PSG pressure no reduce.
Then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia show him class. The Georgian run onto one sweet pass from Joao Neves, round Mamardashvili, and slide ball into empty net. That one make am 2-0 for PSG. Kvaratskhelia don score eight Champions League goals this season. Him dey on fire.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate almost cause another problem. Him bring down Warren Zaire-Emery inside box, referee point to penalty spot. But after checking monitor, referee overturn the decision. Konate get small contact, but him touch ball first. Lucky escape for Liverpool.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot wait too long before making changes. The team dey cry for fresh legs, but Slot no act quick. PSG dey threaten since second half start, and Liverpool defenders no dey track runs well. Szoboszlai dey ball-watching, Ryan Gravenberch react slow when Kvaratskhelia run past him for the second goal.
PSG striker Hugo Ekitike have terrible night. Him miss chances wey him suppose score. Even him teammates like Milos Kerkez and Szoboszlai dey complain say him take wrong option when him shoot wayward. Ekitike for don come out from match since.
Liverpool left side dey weak today. Kerkez struggle to contain PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi. Hakimi dey run up and down, create problems, even if him final pass no always accurate. Liverpool no build anything meaningful from that left side.
Mamardashvili try him best for Liverpool goal. Him even start to play like sweeper keeper to manage space behind defence. But with PSG pressure too much, him no fit do magic.
The match end 2-0. PSG carry advantage go second leg for Anfield. Liverpool still dey for the tie, but dem need miracle to overturn this result. PSG fans dey celebrate wella, while Liverpool fans dey wonder wetin go happen next week.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
