Paris Saint-Germain's Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov delivered a commendable performance in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, earning a positive evaluation from the renowned French sports publication L'Equipe. The match, held at the Arena Munich in Germany, concluded with a 1-1 draw.
L'Equipe assigned Safonov a score of seven out of ten for his efforts between the posts. During the 90 minutes, the shot-stopper was called into action five times, making crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. He conceded just one goal throughout the high-stakes encounter.
Safonov's rating placed him among several teammates who also received the same seven-point mark. Defenders Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes, along with midfielders Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, were all awarded identical scores by the French newspaper, reflecting a collectively solid team display.
The publication's assessment highlighted a clear hierarchy within the PSG squad for this particular fixture. While Safonov and four other players shared the seven-point rating, the lowest score in the team was reserved for midfielder Vitinha.
At the top of the rating chart stood PSG's head coach, Luis Enrique. The Spanish tactician received the highest evaluation from L'Equipe, an eight out of ten, for his tactical setup and management of the team during the tense semi-final clash.
The 1-1 result on the night meant the aggregate score would determine the finalist. Safonov's consistent performance, as acknowledged by the French media, played a part in ensuring PSG remained competitive against the German giants on their home turf.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.