A striking free kick by Riyad Mahrez was decisive on Wednesday evening in the first semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City (1-2) in the Champions League. The Algerian’s bet went straight through the Parisian wall twenty minutes before time, as Presnel Kimpembe turned slightly and the leather thus went between the defender and Leandro Paredes. The surprised face of Marco Verratti, who was lying on the ground to turn a possible low shot with his body, went viral on Wednesday evening.
Keylor Navas was heavily criticized on social media for seemingly late in responding to Mahrez’s commitment. The fact that the goalkeeper did not go free a few minutes earlier at 1-1, a turning cross from Kevin De Bruyne in the far corner, will undoubtedly also played a role. Joe Hart defended in studio from BT Sport Navas’s role in the 1-2. “This ball was simply untenable,” said the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper.
Watch Riyad Mahrez’s 1-2 against Paris Saint-Germain
Hart pointed out the failure of the Manchester City players in the wall. “You just have to stand there and block the ball, it is not more difficult. You stand in a wall with three or four players next to you, a teammate below you. The ball has to be blocked, that’s all. If someone in the street wants to shoot a ball at you, you want to hide. That’s your instinct. But you have to arm yourself against that on the field. ”
“The PSG players failed at that time and lost the game as a result,” Hart emphasized. The reunion between PSG and Manchester City is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.