PSG draws dramatically 1-1 with Newcastle → takes second place in group
Lee Kang-in made his first European Champions League start for Paris Saint-Germain, but received mixed reviews.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) drew 1-1 in the 5th match of Group F of the 2023-2024 European Champions League group stage against Newcastle held at Parc des Princes in Paris, France on the 29th (Korean time).
For PSG, this match against Newcastle was an important match that could determine their performance in the group stage of the European Champions League. PSG, which was in 2nd place in Group F before today's game, has 6 points, 1 point gap with 3rd place AC Milan and only 2 points gap with bottom place Newcastle, so the possibility of falling to the bottom of the group depending on the result of this game cannot be ruled out. I couldn't.
In this situation, PSG was in second place in the group after Dortmund, who drew the match against Newcastle and won the match between AC Milan and Dortmund. If they had lost this game, they would not have been able to advance to the round of 16 of the European Champions League even if they had won against Dortmund in the last 6th game, but if Newcastle had won the game against AC Milan, they would not have been able to advance to the round of 16 of the European Champions League. However, they saved the possibility of advancing on their own with a dramatic draw.
PSG took out the 4-3-3 card that day. Kylian Mbappe, Rendal Colo Muani, and Ousmane Dembele played as the top three, with Lee Kang-in, Manuel Ugarte, and Fabian Luis in midfield. The back four consisted of Lucas Hernández, Danilo, Milan Skriniar, and Ashraf Hakami. The goal was guarded by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Newcastle faced 4-3-3. They faced off with a three-top lineup of Miguel Almiron, Alexander Isak, and Anthony Gordon. Joelington, Bruno Guimaryangs, and Louis Miley played in the midfield. Kieran Trippier and Valentino Libramento were the side backs, and Fabian Shea and Jamal Lascelles were the center backs. The goalkeeper was Nick Pope.
Ahead of this game, much attention was focused on whether Lee Kang-in would be selected. Although it was an important game against Newcastle, there were not many opinions predicting Lee Kang-in as the starter. The European Football Association (UEFA) released the expected starting list for PSG and Newcastle on its official website on the 27th, and Lee Kang-in's name was not in the midfield or attack lineup. The starting list predicted by UEFA was similar to the previous Li
gue 1 home game against AS Monaco, in which Lee Kang-in was absent.
The opinion of France's RMC Sports was not much different. RMC Sports also said, 'PSG's aggressive 4-3-3 composition is possible' and 'Enrique's team organized in 4-3-3 will have to fight against Newcastle. Coach Enrique announced that he will play an aggressive 4-3-3 in this rematch. This is the same starting list that was used in the last match against Monaco. However, he said, “There remains uncertainty about the central striker position,” and did not mention the possibility of Lee Kang-in starting, saying that only Gonzalo Hamus and Muani’s participation in the starting list for the last game would be uncertain.
Coach Enrique did not give an exact answer on whether Lee Kang-in would start. Coach Enrique, who participated in the pre-Newcastle press conference with Vitinha, Lee Kang-in's position rival, was asked about the possibility of Vitinha and Lee Kang-in coexisting, saying, "I think good players can always play together. Both Vitinha and Lee Kang-in can play as wingers or midfielders. “They can play as fielders. Both players can start as starters,” he said, explaining that the two players are not competing for one spot.
This outlook was unfortunate because it further highlighted the fact that Lee Kang-in had rarely been given a starting opportunity in the European Champions League despite showing good performance since the international match last October.
Lee Kang-in’s October was good from the start. He won a gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and also scored a goal on his international debut against Tunisia. His performance continued even after returning to PSG. He started as a starter against Strasbourg and even scored his first goal for PSG despite appearing as a substitute in the 3rd round match of the European Champions League group stage against AC Milan held at home on the 26th of last month. Lee Kang-in, who came on in the 26th minute of the second half, scored the team's third goal after receiving a pass from Jair-Emery in the 44th minute of the second half when PSG was ahead by two goals, contributing to the team's 3-0 win. With this goal, Lee Kang-in tasted his debut goal in 5 games after joining PSG.
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