Auxerre 0-1 PSG Player Ratings: Bradley Barcola Secures Late Winner as Ligue 1 Leaders Win Away Game

Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow win over Auxerre in a Ligue 1 match, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. It was a demanding evening for the visitors, who had to work deep into the game to break down a well-organised Auxerre defence. In this article, we'll discuss Auxerre vs PSG player ratings from the Ligue 1 fixture.

From the opening whistle, Paris Saint-Germain controlled possession and pushed forward, setting up camp in Auxerre’s half. The home team defended with discipline and structure, closing spaces and limiting clear chances. For long stretches, the match resembled a siege, with PSG attacking patiently and Auxerre holding firm.

Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon was the standout performer for much of the contest. He delivered an outstanding display, making several crucial saves to deny PSG’s attackers. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Gonçalo Ramos both came close, only to be stopped by Léon’s sharp reflexes.

As the minutes passed, frustration began to show among the PSG players, while belief grew within the Auxerre ranks.

With the game entering its final stages, it appeared that Auxerre might earn a valuable point through sheer resilience. But in the 81st minute, PSG finally found the breakthrough. A quick counter-attack caught the home side off guard, and Bradley Barcola finished calmly to give Paris the lead.

That goal proved decisive. PSG held on to claim all three points, while Auxerre were left to reflect on a brave and commendable performance. Despite the defeat, the home side can take pride in pushing the league’s champions to the limit on a dramatic night at Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps.

Key Takeaways

1. PSG dominated possession early but struggled to break down Auxerre’s compact defence.
2. Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon made several crucial saves to keep the score level.
3. Bradley Barcola scored the winning goal on a counter-attack in the 81st minute.

PSG Player Ratings vs Auxerre

Let's take a look at PSG player ratings from the Ligue 1 fixture:

Goalkeeper

Lucas Chevalier - 6.5: He might as well have brought a book to read. Chevalier had one of the quietest nights of his career. Auxerre's attack barely tested him, and he was a spectator for most of the match. His distribution was fine, but he had little else to do. It’s hard to rate a keeper who isn't involved.

Defenders

Lucas Beraldo - 7.0: A mostly solid outing from the defender. He was comfortable on the ball with a 94% pass accuracy and made some crucial clearances. However, he picked up a yellow card and was dribbled past a couple of times. A decent, if not spectacular, performance.

Ilya Zabarnyi - 7.5: Very composed and assured at the back. Zabarnyi was excellent in possession, rarely misplacing a pass. He read the game well, making a few important recoveries and winning most of his duels. He looked like the calmest man on the pitch for PSG.

Lucas Hernández - 7.0: A typically industrious performance from Hernández. He was heavily involved with over 100 touches and moved the ball forward effectively. Defensively, he was sound, winning his tackles and drawing fouls to relieve pressure. A reliable showing.

Warren Zaïre-Emery - 6.5: Played in a slightly deeper role and it showed. While he was tidy in possession, he seemed a bit out of his comfort zone defensively. We noticed he was dribbled past five times, which is very unlike him. He worked hard but wasn't at his influential best.

Midfielders

Vitinha - 8.0: The heartbeat of the PSG team. Vitinha was absolutely everywhere, dictating the tempo with an incredible 129 touches. He was the chief creator, constantly looking for a killer pass and setting up four chances. From our perspective, he was PSG's best player on the night.

Senny Mayulu - 6.5: A quiet but efficient performance from the young midfielder. He kept things simple and tidy, boasting a 97% pass completion rate. He even created a couple of chances but faded in and out of the game. A decent learning experience for him.

Ibrahim Mbaye - 6.0: He was on the pitch for just over an hour and struggled to make a significant impact. He had a shot on target but was otherwise a peripheral figure. Not a bad performance, but not one that stood out either before he was substituted.

Forwards

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 6.5: A frustrating night for the Georgian winger. He was very active and always looked to make things happen, but his final product was lacking. He lost possession a staggering 26 times which really hampered PSG's rhythm. He did create a big chance but was ultimately wasteful.

Gonçalo Ramos - 5.5: A performance to forget for the striker. He was ineffective, losing the majority of his duels and missing a big chance. He looked isolated and couldn't impose himself on the Auxerre defence. It was no surprise to see him subbed off after an hour.

Bradley Barcola - 7.5: The match-winner. For 80 minutes, it looked like it wasn't his night, as he missed three big chances. But credit to him, he kept going and produced a moment of magic to score the decisive goal. His persistence paid off, turning a frustrating evening into a heroic one.

Substitutes

Ousmane Dembélé - 7.5: Came on and changed the game. His directness and creativity were exactly what PSG needed. He provided the crucial assist for Barcola's goal with a perfect through ball. An impactful cameo.

Désiré Doué - 6.5: Brought on to help see the game out. He worked hard and drew a couple of fouls to break up play. A solid, if unspectacular, appearance.

Manager

L. Martínez García - 7.0: His team had all the ball but lacked incision for most of the game. He will be concerned by how they struggled to create clear openings. However, his substitutions proved decisive, with Dembélé making the key contribution. Job done, but it was far from convincing.

Auxerre Player Ratings vs Paris Saint Germain

Here are Auxerre player ratings from the Auxerre vs PSG game:

Goalkeeper

Donovan Léon - 8.5: The Man of the Match, without a shadow of a doubt. Léon was simply outstanding between the sticks. He made seven saves, five of which were from shots inside the box, to keep his team level for so long. It was a heroic goalkeeping display that deserved a clean sheet. A truly phenomenal performance.

Defenders

Gideon Mensah - 7.0: A strong and committed performance at the back. He was solid in his duels and made some important tackles and interceptions. He battled hard against PSG's tricky wingers and did a commendable job throughout the match.

Sinaly Diomandé - 8.0: An absolute rock in the heart of the defence. Diomandé put his body on the line, blocking three shots and making numerous clearances. He was a commanding presence and marshalled the backline brilliantly until he was substituted late on. A fantastic defensive display.

Lamine Sy - 7.5: Full of energy and determination. Sy won an impressive eight out of nine duels, showing his strength and tenacity. He was aggressive in the challenge and made life very difficult for the PSG attackers down his flank.

Marvin Senaya - 6.0: Had a tough evening against the likes of Kvaratskhelia and Barcola. He was dribbled past three times and struggled to contain the threat. He made a few good clearances but it was a difficult assignment for him.

Clément Akpa - 7.0: A very solid and intelligent performance. Akpa read the game superbly, making four interceptions and eight ball recoveries. He was calm under pressure and positioned himself well to snuff out danger. An underrated but vital part of Auxerre's defence.

Midfielders

Kévin Danois - 7.0: A workhorse in the midfield. Danois covered a lot of ground, made eight ball recoveries, and won the majority of his duels. He provided a crucial screen for his defence and was disciplined throughout.

Naouirou Ahamada - 6.0: A quiet first half for the midfielder. He struggled to get on the ball and make an impact on the game. He was substituted at halftime as the coach looked for a different approach.

Oussama El Azzouzi - 6.5: A mixed performance. He showed some nice touches and created a couple of chances but was also loose in possession at times. He battled hard in the midfield but lacked a consistent impact on the game.

Danny Namaso - 7.0: A very lively and combative display. He was involved in 18 duels, showing he wasn't afraid to get stuck in. He was also tidy on the ball and tried to drive his team forward when he could. A real handful.

Forwards

Lassine Sinayoko - 6.0: It was a thankless task for Sinayoko up front. He was isolated for long periods and had to feed off scraps. He had a few shots but none that truly troubled the keeper. He worked hard for the team but lacked any real service.

Substitutes

Rudy Matondo - 6.5: Came on at halftime and offered some energy but couldn't find a way through the PSG defence.

Romain Faivre - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Lasso Coulibaly - N/A: A late cameo with little time to influence the game.

Sékou Mara - N/A: Thrown on at the end to chase a goal.

Manager

C. Pélissier - 7.5: His game plan was almost perfect. He set his team up to be incredibly organized and difficult to beat, and they executed it brilliantly for 80 minutes. He will be heartbroken to come away with nothing, but he can be immensely proud of his team's effort and discipline.

Man of the Match

Despite the loss, Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Leon was the best player in the Ligue 1 fixture.

Worst Performer

Goncalo Ramos was unable to produce any promising chances.