The Parisians are on the right track!

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The Paris Saint-Germain women’s team successfully negotiated their UEFA Women’s Champions League game against Gornik Leczna by winning 2-0 at the Stadion Gornika Leczna in the first leg of the Round of 32.

Coming off a run of eight straight victories in the League, the Parisians headed to South-East Poland to face GKS Gornik Leczna, who booked their place in the Round of 32 by beating the Croatian side ZNK Split 4-1 and the Cypriot side Apollon Ladies FC 2-1. Four days on from the 4-1 victory in the derby against Paris FC, Olivier Echouafni picked a slightly changed but attacking starting eleven (Cook, Simon, Bachmann and Huitema replaced Paredes, Morroni, Geyoro and Katoto) for the Rouge et Bleu’s entrance in the competition.

From kick off the club from the capital piled the pressure on the three time Polish champions. Two Sara Däbritz corners led to chances, the first one put wide by Paulina Dudek (5’) and the second from Kadidiatou Diani was saved by keeper Anna Palinska (8’). The German international then hit a free kick from 20 metres just off target. After Ramona Bachmann found Diani in the box, the Polish keeper saved once more.

After battling with her defender, Jordyn Huitema won her duel to place the ball into the back of the net (0-1,16’). The Rouge et Bleu didn’t stop there though as Diani’s cross was put just over by Sandy Baltimore’s volley (19’). It was the same again a few minutes later as the Parisian number 11 cross once more for the young French international to head home brilliantly (0-2, 25’).

In the second half, the Polish side were under pressure once more. Huitema was denied by Palinska once more after being played through by Huitema (55’) and Diani saw her attempt blocked (56’). Baltimore then showed the extent of her dribbling ability and struck the post with her strike (58’). Bachmann then went on a mazy run before her shot was stopped by the GKS keeper (76’). Däbritz then tried her luck once more, but her chip didn’t trouble Palinska (90’).

The club from the capital are now favourites to qualify for the Last 16 of the competition before the return leg on Wednesday December 16 at 14:30 at the Stade Georges Lefèvre to conclude 2020. Before that game the Parisians will have faced Le Havre three days earlier at the same time at Saint-Germain-en-Laye in matchday 11 of the D1, in the final game of the first league phase.