Faultless Paris

News

Highlights:
Paris started in style, with Angel Di Maria testing Mignolet early (5')! But Brugge had come to the Parc to play and Okereke fired just wide (7'). To escape the constant high-pressing game of the Belgian visitors, Paris looked to its secret weapon: ruthless efficiency, perfectly illustrated by Mauro Icardi who turned home Colin Dagba's cross from the right (1-0, 22')!
It was the Argentine's eighth goal in his first ten UEFA Champions League matches. But was again, Brugge refused to lie down and Bonaventure forced Navas into action (28'). Di Maria then tried his luck direct from a corner (40') and then from the edge of the area (44') as Paris got closer and closer. At the end of 45 minutes, both sides had enjoyed six shots at goal... but Paris led on the score sheet.

After the break, Navas produced a great reflex save to keep his side in front (50')… before Dagba went close to extending the advantage from a tight angle (52'). Brugge showed plenty of character and came again and had a gilt-edged chance to equalise... but Paris have Keylor and Diagne saw his penalty saved (76')! A final cross-cum-shot from Dagba was tipped over by Mignolet (85') before the final whistle confirmed Paris' place in the last-16 for the eighth year in a row and now travel to Real Madrid (2nd, on 7 points) looking to cement top spot in Group A. 

A man in the match: Keylor Navas
A great double save to deny Bonaventure and Okereke (50'), and then the penalty save from Diagne (76'): The Costa Rica star was imperial. Navas, Thiago Silva and Co. have now kept four consecutive clean sheets in the group stage (the only club yet to concede a goal in the UEFA Champions League this term)!

The word: Qualified 
It was the big news of the evening. For the eighth year in a row, Paris Saint-Germain have qualified from the group stage and are into the last-16 with four wins from four. The French champions are now unbeaten at home in the group stage in 23 matches (18 wins, 5 draws).

Coming up: 
On Saturday (17:30, Week 13), Les Parisiens have one more match before the international break. In three days the side from the French capital head west to Brest and the Stade Francis-Le Blé for the first time in seven years. After coming unstuck against Dijon, the league leaders will be looking to bounce back against a Brest side that are undefeated in six home matches this season (three wins, three draws).