The Parisians fall to cruel defeat

The Parisians were back in action against Juventus at the PSG Campus, eight days after a frustrating 3-1 defeat in Italy. Beaten against the run of play, Fabrice Abriel's players had every intention of giving it their all in the second leg to turn the tie around. The women's coach had concocted an impressive starting eleven, with the Albert-Katoto tandem up front and Grace Geyoro playing a free role in midfield to support the forwards.

After the way the first leg turned out, there was little room for manoeuvre. The mission was clear: find a way to break down the Bianconere, who proved capable of ceding possession and soaking up pressure while at the same time being utterly clinical when they had the slightest chance to score. Unfortunately, the spectre of that first match soon resurfaced as, in the second minute, the redoubtable Cantore took advantage of a throw into the box to dampen our enthusiasm (0-1, 2').

And so another match began... a race against time in which patience, perseverance and solidarity were the watchwords. Torn between the need to score and the importance of staying tight at the back, the Parisians had to be very methodical.

Les Rouge et Bleu claimed the lion's share of possession, but they also had to create space to break through Juventus's deep-lying, compact defensive bloc. The pressure intensified, but they had to wait until the end of the first half for a chance to make the most of these long periods with the ball. After a fine opening from Griedge Mbock, Marie-Antoinette Katoto was thwarted at the last second (39'), as was captain Paulina Dudek, who went close with a dangerous free-kick (44').

Fabrice Abriel's players tenaciously kept up their efforts, both defensively, with plenty of cover, and offensively, with speed and intelligent runs. And the match came to a head when MAK won a penalty after contact with Lenzini and Romee Leuchter converted the spot-kick with authority (1-1, 53')!

Thrown into the deep end by Fabrice Abriel, the Dutchwoman symbolised the audacity of a coach clearly determined to use all his options to turn things around. Bergamaschi hit the post with a floated shot (53'), but it was Bonansea who sealed the fate of the match - and the tie - with a header from a corner (1-2, 72'). It was a very frustrating end for the Parisians, unlucky at both ends of the pitch - as Korbin Albert's angled effort, which hit the upright (62'), proved once again.

This double-header therefore brings to an end the European adventure of Paris Saint-Germain's women's team, who went unrewarded in their two matches against this other European football powerhouse. But this 2024-25 campaign will still be rich and exciting; the Parisians return to domestic action when they take on Guingamp on Sunday.