Paris Saint-Germain needed a series of saves from Matvey Safonov to secure their first Ligue 1 victory at Brest, with three players receiving the lowest ratings after a troubled performance from the reigning champions of France and Europe.
Rather than looking like a settled title-winning side, Luis Enrique’s team again appeared to be a work in progress. Mistakes were frequent, the defence looked vulnerable and Brest created enough danger to suggest PSG could have left empty-handed.
Safonov ultimately became the outstanding figure of the match, protecting his side when errors opened the door for Brest. The Russian goalkeeper’s performance contrasted sharply with the displays of three PSG players, each given a rating of 3.0 by Euro-Football.ru. The publication’s rating scale begins at 6 before the match, with a maximum possible score of 10 at full time.
Pacho exposed again
Willian Pacho was heavily criticised for another error-prone display in central defence. His failure to keep up with Nuno Mendes’ pass allowed Kamory Doumbia to take possession and shoot at Safonov.
Pacho was fortunate not to score an own goal later in the match, when he attempted to cut out a dangerous cross from Pate. Brest repeatedly found space through his area, making the overall picture of his performance difficult to disguise despite his involvement in physical duels.
The Ecuadorian defender’s latest display added to concerns about the instability at the heart of PSG’s defence, which has repeatedly been exposed during the opening rounds of the season.
Zaire-Emery loses possession
Warren Zaire-Emery was also judged to have contributed to PSG’s problems. Under pressure from Brest, he lost his composure and gave the ball to Mbupu, allowing the home side to launch a dangerous attack.
Safonov was required to intervene again at the end of that move, preventing Brest from turning the mistake into a goal.
Zaire-Emery lost possession eight times, was beaten in four of his six duels and was booked for two fouls. He offered little influence going forward either, leaving PSG short of control in midfield and unable to build sustained pressure.
Khvicha fails to make an impact
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was described as a shadow of the dynamic Georgian who had impressed in the UEFA Super Cup. He had two strong opportunities after efforts from Ousmane Dembele, but hesitated for too long inside the penalty area and lost both duels with Selvik.
His main problem, however, was not simply his finishing. Kvaratskhelia created almost nothing himself, producing neither a dangerous cross nor a decisive run. He did not register a key pass and was eventually replaced in the 66th minute, a decision viewed as justified after an ineffective afternoon.