RB Salzburg 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Les Parisiens ease past sorry hosts to claim second league phase win
Paris St-Germain concluded their longest winless streak of the season with a commanding 3-0 victory against RB Salzburg in Austria, thereby re-entering the top 24 of the UEFA Champions League group stage based on goal difference.
From the outset, the visitors, who have not faced elimination in the group stage of a European competition since 2011, aimed to assert their dominance.
A powerful strike from 25 yards by Achraf Hakimi was expertly saved by Alexander Schlager, who quickly regained his balance to thwart Goncalo Ramos’ subsequent header. Meanwhile, Lee Kang-In narrowly missed the target with a well-placed shot.
Vitinha also attempted to score but was denied by the goalkeeper. Following a missed opportunity by Dorgeles Nene at the other end, Ramos had another chance for Luis Enrique’s team but failed to convert from close range.
However, the forward soon found the net, breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute by capitalizing on Hakimi’s assist from just inches away.
The French side appeared poised to dominate further, although Bradley Barcola and Marquinhos squandered opportunities to extend their lead before halftime.
After the interval, they struggled to maintain their attacking rhythm and only managed to add to their tally in the 72nd minute, when Nuno Mendes connected with Desire Doue’s cut-back and struck the ball into the far top corner.
The match was decisively concluded, as Pepijn Lijnders' team was unable to challenge their opponents effectively. By this stage, they had managed only a single shot on target, which came when Nene weakly directed the ball straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However, the Parisians were not finished, as Doue scored his inaugural Champions League goal by skillfully directing the ball into the top corner after receiving a selfless pass from Hakimi near the penalty area.
Consequently, PSG secured their first victory in four matches, marking their initial win in Austria, while Salzburg faced their fourth defeat in six league-phase games, now confronting a significant challenge to qualify for the knockout stage.
SportsLigue