Paris Saint Germain vs Ludogorets: Shock PSG collapse sees Arsenal qualify top of Group A
The French champions draw 2-2 with Bulgarian side Ludogorets at the Parc des Princes, a disastrous result for Unai Emery
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Your support makes all the difference.Paris Saint Germain collapsed spectacularly in the Parc des Princes last night, drawing 2-2 at home to Ludogorets and allowing Arsenal to win Group A.
The surprise draw to the unfancied Bulgarian side leaves PSG unseeded for the last-16, a disastrous result that throws Unai Emery’s tenure in Paris into real doubt. He was brought in to replace Laurent Blanc to improve PSG’s performances in Europe, but this result is a genuine embarrassment for the French giants. They are now at risk of facing Barcelona, Napoli or Atletico Madrid in the last-16. Their current form abroad and at home - they are back in third in Ligue 1 - would suggest that they could certainly struggle.
Going into this game as heavy favourites to get the three points they needed, PSG were defensively sloppy from the start. After 20 minutes Ludogorets took a surprising lead when Virgil Misidjan was allowed a free header from close range, and he easily beat Alphonse Areola.
PSG kept the pressure on and dominated possession but looked too anxious to pick Ludogorets apart in the first half. Marcelinho had a good chance to double Ludogorets’ lead and, eventually, they conceded enough territory that they lost their lead. Edinson Cavani pulled PSG back into the game with an overhead kick.
This could have turned the game but instead Ludogorets came back at PSG and scored an implausible second eight minutes later, through Wanderson, to go 2-1 up again. Emery was meant to bring more aggression and structure to this PSG side but the evidence suggests that they are a weaker side than they were under Blanc.
That second goal gave PSG 20 minutes to score twice to win the group but it took them to the second minute of added time for them to equalise. Layvin Kurzawa brought the ball down in the box and set up Di Maria, who finished from close range. That gave PSG one more minute of added time, and Cavani nearly converted from Jese’s cross from the left. But it was too little, too late, and PSG finished Group A in second place.
Laurent Blanc was sacked last year after PSG were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Manchester City. Emery’s PSG might do well to get that far this season, if they do not get a favourable draw in the last-16.
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