Athletic Club vs PSG Player Ratings: The Parisians Failed to Breach the Lions' Stubborn Defense

This one will go down as a classic case of what could have been. The Champions League clash at San Mamés Barria between Athletic Club and Paris Saint-Germain promised goals but delivered a tense, goalless stalemate. PSG will be kicking themselves. They utterly dominated possession, weaving pretty patterns all over the pitch. It felt like they were constantly on the verge of a breakthrough.

But football isn't won on possession stats. Athletic Club, to their immense credit, were a wall of red and white. They defended with grit and organization that their manager would be proud of. Every time PSG found a gap, a heroic block or a last-ditch tackle appeared from nowhere. And when those failed, their goalkeeper was simply unbeatable.

What stood out to us was the sheer wastefulness of Paris Saint-Germain's attack. Players like Fabián Ruiz and the young Senny Mayulu had chances you'd expect them to bury. But they fluffed their lines. This match was a frustrating spectacle, a tactical battle where defense and goalkeeping ultimately triumphed over a blunt attack. Here are Sportsdunia's Athletic Club vs PSG player ratings:

PSG Player Ratings vs Athletic Club

Check out the PSG player ratings for the Athletic Club vs PSG fixture.

Goalkeeper

Matvey Safonov - 7.0: He had very little to do for most of the game, a spectator to his team's dominance. However, he stayed alert and made a crucial save late on to preserve the point. His distribution was calm and collected, with a few decent long balls finding their mark. A quiet but professional performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Warren Zaïre-Emery - 7.5: We noticed him everywhere on the right flank. He was a constant outlet, driving forward and creating a couple of key chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was mostly solid, winning most of his duels despite picking up a yellow card. He did get caught out once or twice, but his engine is just incredible.

Willian Pacho - 7.0: A really tidy performance at the back. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping PSG build from deep with confidence. He read the game well and made several important clearances to snuff out Athletic's rare attacks. A composed and reliable display from the defender.

Nuno Mendes - 6.5: An energetic but ultimately frustrating evening for the left-back. He bombed forward constantly and his pace was a threat. However, his final ball was lacking and he lost possession quite a few times. He drew several fouls but we expected a bit more impact from him in the final third.

Marquinhos - 6.5: The captain was solid for the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. He was calm, composed and his passing was accurate as ever. It was a real shame to see him forced off with an injury at halftime. PSG missed his leadership in the second half for sure.

Midfielders

Vitinha - 8.0: What a player. He was the metronome in PSG's midfield, controlling the tempo of the entire game. His pass completion stat of 94% from 121 passes is just absurd. He was always available, always looking forward, and dictated play with ease. PSG's best player on the night by a comfortable margin.

João Neves - 7.0: A proper workhorse performance in the middle of the park. He covered so much ground, breaking up play and winning his battles. His energy was infectious, and he provided a solid screen for the defence. He kept his passing simple and effective, a really disciplined display.

Fabián Ruiz - 5.5: This one will sting for him. He got into fantastic goalscoring positions but his finishing was atrocious. He missed two big chances that a player of his quality should be scoring. It was a performance that promised so much but delivered so little in the moments that mattered.

Forwards

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 6.5: He looked lively and was a nightmare for defenders, drawing five fouls. From our perspective, he was trying to make things happen but it just didn't click. He lost the ball far too often and his shooting was wayward. A lot of effort without the end product.

Bradley Barcola - 6.0: It was a night of 'what ifs' for Barcola. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork and missed another big chance. He got into dangerous areas but lacked the composure to make it count. Seemed to be lacking a bit of confidence in front of goal.

Senny Mayulu - 5.0: The youngster will be having nightmares about his missed chances. He was put through on goal multiple times and failed to convert. It was a tough night for him, as his profligacy cost his team dearly. Definitely the worst performer, a harsh lesson for the young forward.

Substitutes

Illia Zabarnyi - 6.5: Came on for the injured Marquinhos and did a decent job. Looked solid and didn't put a foot wrong.

Désiré Doué - 6.0: Brought on to provide a spark but struggled to get into the game.

Gonçalo Ramos - 6.0: Had a glorious chance to win it at the death but fired his shot over the bar.

Manager

L. Martínez García - 6.5: His team completely controlled the match and created enough chances to win two games. Tactically, he got it right. However, he'll be furious with his team's finishing. It's his job to get them scoring, and on that front, they failed.

Athletic Club Player Ratings vs PSG

Check out the Athletic Club player ratings for the Athletic Club vs PSG fixture.

Goalkeeper

Unai Simón - 9.0: Man of the Match, without a shadow of a doubt. He was an absolute colossus in goal for Athletic Club. He made four massive saves, including several from point-blank range, to single-handedly earn his team a point. A truly heroic performance.

Defenders

Jesús Areso - 8.0: A phenomenal defensive display. He was a tackling machine, winning an incredible seven of his eight tackle attempts. He completely shut down his side of the pitch and was a constant nuisance for PSG's attackers. What a shift.

Dani Vivian - 6.5: He was part of a defence that was under siege for 90 minutes. He made a few important clearances but also looked shaky at times. Lost a few of his duels but ultimately did enough to help secure the clean sheet.

Yuri Berchiche - 8.0: The captain led by example with a warrior-like performance. His highlight was a brilliant clearance off the line that saved a certain goal. He was strong in the tackle, organised the backline, and showed immense determination. A true captain's knock.

Adama Boiro - 7.0: A very solid game from the defender. He won most of his aerial and ground duels and showed he could contribute going forward with a couple of decent crosses. He was disciplined and focused throughout. Good game.

Midfielders

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta - 6.5: A tireless worker in the midfield engine room. He spent the entire game chasing shadows but never stopped running. He broke up play effectively and used the ball intelligently when he had it. A gritty, selfless performance.

Mikel Jauregizar - 6.5: Full of energy and combativeness, which earned him a yellow card. He was everywhere, trying to disrupt PSG's rhythm. His passing was a bit hit-and-miss, but you can't fault his effort.

Oihan Sancet - 6.0: He had a couple of decent shooting opportunities but his finishing was wild. He struggled to impose himself on the game against a dominant PSG midfield. Worked hard but lacked the quality to make a difference.

Nico Williams - 6.5: Looked like Athletic's most dangerous player when he got on the ball. He created three chances for his teammates and his pace was a problem. However, he was also dispossessed a few too many times. Needed to be more consistent.

Álex Berenguer - 5.5: A really poor outing for him. He was wasteful in possession and his shooting was all over the place. He picked up a needless yellow card and just looked off the pace. A performance to forget.

Forwards

Gorka Guruzeta - 6.0: Had a thankless task leading the line on his own. He battled hard, won a few headers, but was completely starved of service. He worked tirelessly for the team before being substituted. A difficult night at the office.

Substitutes

Unai Gómez - 6.0: Came on and ran around a lot, picking up a late yellow card for his troubles.

Alejandro Rego - N/A: Not on long enough to make an impact.

Asier Hierro - 6.5: Almost became the hero with a late shot that forced a good save from Safonov.

Andoni Gorosabel - N/A: Came on late to help see out the draw.

Mikel Vesga - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes to add fresh legs.

Manager

E. Valverde - 7.5: He deserves immense credit. He knew his team couldn't go toe-to-toe with PSG, so he set them up to be compact, organised, and resilient. His game plan worked perfectly, frustrating the visitors and earning a hard-fought point. A tactical masterclass in defence.

Sportsduunia's Player to the Match Goes to Unai Simón