Was the wall high in UCL? 'It's too bad' Lee Kang-in played full-time + no-turn mid-range shots → blocked by an iron wall defense...PSG lose 0-2 to Arsenal

Oct 02, 2024

Lee Kang-in started the European Champions League for the first time this season. However, it did not lead the team to victory. On the 2nd, PSG lost 0-2 to Arsenal in the second round of the European Champions League (UCL) phase in 2024-2025 season. Like the last Stade Ren match, Lee Kang-in was placed in a zero-top position with a fake role of No. 9. However, in the game, Lee Kang-in failed to score an attack point even though he struggled, such as creating opportunities and attempting a spinless mid-range shot. PSG also struggled throughout the game due to Arsenal's strong defense. REUTERS Yonhap News

Lee Kang-in started the European Champions League for the first time this season. However, it did not lead the team to victory.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) lost 0-2 to Arsenal in the second round of the 2024-2025 European Champions League (UCL) phase at the Emirates Stadium in London on the 2nd (Korea time).

PSG came out with a 4-3-3 formation. Bradley Barcola, Lee Kang-in, and Desiree Doue are located in the three-top, and the midfield was built by Warren Zairemeri, Joao Neves and Vitinha. Four backs featured Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquignos and Ashraf Hakimi. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Like the last Stade Ren match, Lee Kang-in was placed in a zero-top position with a fake role of No. 9. It was his first UCL start this season.

PSG were excluded from the away call-up list due to Usman Dembele's altercation with manager Luis Enrique ahead of the match against Arsenal. It was a surprising decision. Dembele has been an ace since Kylian Mbappe left PSG this summer. He has already scored four goals and three assists this season, and Enrique has consistently used Dembele as a starter in important games. However, ahead of the Arsenal expedition, Enrique left Dembele in Paris at all and did not even allow him to accompany him. Lee Kang-in was mentioned as a possible starter in the front line and right winger position. Coach Enrique's choice was Lee Kang-in's fake No. 9 tactic.

Arsenal fought back with a 4-3-3 form. Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli at the front line and Leandro Trossar, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice at the center field. The defense consisted of Wiriyen Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalyangis and Ricardo Calafiori. David Raya kept the goal.

From the beginning of the game, the two teams faced off strongly. They clashed by constantly blocking the opponent's attack with strong pressure from the midfield area. The team that led the attack a little more was Arsenal. In the third minute of the first half, Raya's long kick seemed to be delivered to Martinelli, who was entering the box, but Donnarumma caught it with a quick advance. In the 9th minute of the first half, Saka caught the ball on the right side of the penalty box and attempted to shoot just over the post.

PSG is not behind either. Due, who received Mendes' long pass in the 12th minute of the first half, attempted a mid-range shot in front of the penalty box and missed the goal. In the 19th minute of the first half, Barcola pressed Saliba in a counterattack to seek an opportunity, but failed to catch the ball properly at the last minute and finish the attack.

Arsenal took the lead by scoring the first goal. In the 20th minute of the first half, Trossar advanced to the left of the penalty box arc through a direct breakthrough, and he sharply raised the ball in front of the gate. Havertz, who was in the center of the box, finished it with a header, and even broke through Donnarumma, who was about to save, to cut the PSG goal.

PSG continued to look for a chance to make up after the first run. In the 25th minute of the first half, Neves' sharp pass broke through Arsenal's defense and was delivered to Barcola, but Barcola's dribble in the box was caught by Saliba's leg and could not be finished with a shot.

Attacking opportunities continued to turn away from Arsenal's goal. In the 28th minute of the first half, Menseth's mid-range shot in front of the penalty box headed to the corner of the box, but it hit the post and went off the goal line. In the 31st minute of the first half, Hakimi advanced deep into the penalty box by piercing Calafiori with a huge overlap. He even tried to shoot himself, but was blocked by Raya's good defense. Lee Kang-in struggled from the front line to the midfield, but he rarely had a chance to play.

Arsenal widened the gap with an extra goal. In the 35th minute of the first half, Saka finished the free kick he got from the far right side of the penalty box. Saka's kick did not fit either Arsenal or PSG players and shook the PSG net as it was.

PSG sought a chance afterwards, but the comeback goal did not break out, and Arsenal finished with a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Arsenal took out Timber and put in Jakub Kivior at the start of the second half. PSG entered the second half without a replacement.

The team that created the chance first in the second half was Arsenal. Arsenal, who stole the ball from the PSG side in the 7th minute of the second half, had the ball through Saka and Havertz delivered to Martinelli in the center of the penalty box. But Martinelli's powerful shot went straight to Donnarumma and caught it.

PSG also worked hard to counterattack. In the 11th minute of the second half, Barcola crossed in a counterattack, but he went straight into Raya's arms.

Lee Kang-in left the front line by changing his position to the right winger, not the front line.Lee Kang-in also created an opportunity with a pass. In the 15th minute of the second half, Hakimi, who was advancing on the pass Lee Kang-in, drove into the box, but was blocked by Arsenal's defense. Lee Kang-in also showed a decisive defense. In the 18th minute of the second half, when Martinelli launched a counterattack with a fast breakthrough, Lee Kang-in followed with a tremendous speed and blocked the advance with a tackle from the right side of the penalty box.

The two teams made the changes as a substitute. PSG put in Randal Colomuani and Fabian Lewis without Due and Vitinha, while Arsenal took out the party and Mikel Merino replaced.

Lee Kang-in's sharp kick continued to create opportunities. In the 21st minute of the second half, Neves touched the ball that Lee Kang-in posted in a corner kick situation, but failed to score after hitting the post. In the 23rd minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in attempted a strong no-turn mid-range shot from a distance from the penalty box, but was blocked by Raya's good defense that read the direction and swallowed the disappointment.

PSG rarely took advantage of the opportunity. In the 40th minute of the second half, Marquignos finished the ball posted by Lee Kang-in with a header, but the ball rose high. In the 42nd minute of the second half, a cross following Hakimi's breakthrough was blocked by Calafior.

In the end, Arsenal finished with a 2-0 victory.

digh1229@sportschosun.com

Was the wall high in UCL? 'It's too bad' Lee Kang-in played full-time + no-turn mid-range shots → blocked by an iron wall defense...PSG lose 0-2 to Arsenal

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