Metz 2-3 PSG Player Ratings: Ibrahim Mbaye 8.5/10 Rated as PSG Edge Five-Goal Thriller

What an absolutely chaotic and thrilling encounter we witnessed at the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz. This was a classic clash of titans versus underdogs, and it delivered pure entertainment. The final score of 3-2 to PSG barely tells the whole story of this see-saw match.

PSG looked to be cruising, establishing a comfortable two-goal cushion in the first half through clinical finishes. It felt like business as usual for them. But Metz, to their immense credit, refused to lie down and roared back into the game with a goal just before the break, completely changing the team talks, I'm sure.

The second half continued the drama. PSG restored their two-goal advantage, but again Metz fought back, setting up a nail-biting finale. What stood out to us was the sheer resilience of the home side and the explosive talent of PSG's attack, particularly the phenomenal Ibrahim Mbaye, who was simply unplayable at times. Here are Sportsdunia's Metz vs PSG player ratings.

PSG Player Ratings vs Metz

Check out the PSG player ratings for the Metz vs PSG fixture.

Goalkeeper

Matvey Safonov - 6.0: A difficult day for the keeper. He made a few important saves, three in total, but conceding two goals never looks good. From our perspective he couldn't do much about either strike, as they were both well-taken. His distribution was decent, but he didn't command his area with the authority we expected.

Defenders

Ilya Zabarnyi - 6.5: He was extremely tidy in possession with a 96% pass accuracy, which is impressive under pressure. However, he looked a bit shaky in his duels, winning only a quarter of them. Made a crucial last-man tackle but was also part of a defensive unit that appeared vulnerable on the counter.

Lucas Hernández - 6.5: A very busy performance from Hernández. He was heavily involved, winning a high percentage of his duels and making some important tackles. However, he also gave away possession a few too many times for our liking. It was a battling display, but one that lacked a bit of composure at key moments.

Warren Zaïre-Emery - 6.0: What stood out to us was his incredible energy, recovering the ball 10 times. He tried to drive the team forward, but it was a frustrating outing for the young star. He picked up a yellow card and lost possession in some dangerous areas. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Willian Pacho - 6.5: Pacho was a calm head in a frantic backline. His passing was almost perfect, and he made several vital clearances and blocked shots. He wasn't spectacular, but he did his job with minimal fuss. A solid, if unremarkable, performance in the heart of the defense.

Midfielders

Fabián Ruiz - 6.0: He had a perfect pass completion rate in the first half which is just absurd. But, he didn't really influence the game in the final third. He was substituted at halftime, and it felt like a necessary change to inject more dynamism into the midfield. A neat but ineffective 45 minutes.

Vitinha - 7.5: The captain was the metronome of this PSG side. With 126 touches and an almost flawless passing display, he completely ran the show from the middle of the park. He dictated the tempo and was the link between defense and attack. A commanding performance that deserved a goal or assist.

Quentin Ndjantou - 7.0: The youngster took his goal well, showing great composure to find the net. He looked bright and dangerous before being substituted. It was a promising display, and getting on the scoresheet in a tight game is a massive contribution. We were surprised to see him taken off.

Forwards

Gonçalo Ramos - 7.0: Opened the scoring with a well-placed header, showing his poacher's instinct. He was a physical presence up front, though he did miss a big chance he'd want back. His job is to score goals, and he did that. A successful day at the office for the striker.

Kang-in Lee - 8.0: A creative spark throughout the match. His corner for the first goal was perfect, and he created three chances for his teammates. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and vision. A truly impressive attacking display that caused Metz problems all evening.

Ibrahim Mbaye - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a shadow of a doubt. Two assists, two big chances created, and he was unlucky not to score himself, hitting the woodwork. He was an absolute menace, running at the defense with pace and purpose. An electric, game-winning performance.

Substitutes

Désiré Doué - 7.5: Came on and changed the game with a brilliant strike from distance to score what proved to be the winning goal. An instant impact.

Manager

L. Martínez García - 7.0: His team secured the three points, which is the ultimate goal. However, he will be concerned by how easily his side conceded twice and let Metz back into the game. His substitutions were effective, particularly the introduction of the eventual match-winner. A win is a win, but there are defensive issues to address.

Metz Player Ratings vs PSG

Check out the Metz player ratings for the Metz vs PSG fixture.

Goalkeeper

Jonathan Fischer - 8.0: Despite conceding three goals, Fischer was arguably Metz's best player. He made six saves, some of which were absolutely world-class to deny PSG. Without his heroics between the sticks, the scoreline could have been much worse. A fantastic individual performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Maxime Colin - 5.5: A really tough day for Colin. He struggled to cope with PSG's fluid attack and was dribbled past too easily. He offered very little going forward and looked off the pace defensively. From our perspective, he was the weakest link in the backline.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin - 7.0: A warrior-like performance from Gbamin. He threw himself into tackles and made several crucial clearances, including a last-man tackle. He was a commanding presence in the air and read the game well. A strong showing despite being on the losing side.

Terry Yegbe - 6.5: Was having a solid game before being forced off with an injury. He made a vital last-man tackle and was holding his own against a top-tier attack. It was a real shame his night ended prematurely as he was performing admirably.

Koffi Kouao - 6.5: An all-action, chaotic performance. He made an incredible six tackles and won a majority of his duels, showing immense fight. However, he also picked up a yellow card and was rash at times. A very mixed bag of aggression and determination.

Midfielders

Giorgi Tsitaishvili - 8.0: What a performance. He scored a wonderful goal to drag his team back into the contest and was a constant threat with his dangerous crosses. He was fearless, taking players on and trying to make things happen. A standout display full of quality and fight.

Boubacar Traoré - 6.0: He worked tirelessly in the midfield engine room, breaking up play and getting stuck in. He won his share of duels but his use of the ball was a bit sloppy. An energetic but ultimately limited performance before he was substituted.

Gauthier Hein - 7.0: The captain led by example. He was calm and composed on the ball, rarely giving it away. He provided a smart assist and was the glue that held the midfield together. A classy and intelligent performance from the skipper.

Malick Mbaye - 6.0: Full of running and endeavour, but lacked the final product. He got into good positions but was wasteful in possession and earned a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. We couldn't fault his effort, but the quality just wasn't there on the day.

Jessy Deminguet - 8.0: Scored a fantastic goal from outside the box to give his team a lifeline before halftime. He was combative, energetic, and contributed massively at both ends of the pitch. An outstanding, all-round midfield performance that personally surprised us.

Forwards

Habib Diallo - 6.5: A frustrating night for the striker. He was a handful physically, winning a lot of aerial duels, but his finishing was wayward. He battled hard but couldn't provide the cutting edge his team needed. He'll feel he should have done better with the chances he had.

Substitutes

Sadibou Sané, Cheikh Sabaly, Giorgi Abuashvili, Alpha Touré: None of the substitutes had enough time or opportunity to truly make a significant impact on the final outcome of the match.

Manager

S. Le Mignan - 7.0: We have to applaud his team's spirit. They went toe-to-toe with a giant and never gave up, scoring twice and making a real fight of it. His tactics were brave, and his players clearly left everything on the pitch for him. He can be proud of the performance, even in defeat.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Ibrahim Mbaye