Stade Brestois 29

2.27

• 
  6

  0

  2.50

  Alexis Thebaux

  Boasts a reputation as an excellent shot stopper, and that was only enhanced on Friday night as he made some very smart saves. His personal highlight was a double block from a Thiago Silva header and then a Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike, though he made a string of terrific blocks.

• 
  0

  0

  2.50

  Johan Martial

  The young defender equipped himself admirably in the middle of the five-man rearguard as he worked extremely hard and covered his fellow centre-backs well when required.

• 
  0

  0

  2.50

  Bernard Mendy

  Slotted in on the left of the packed Brest rearguard and was restricted to a holding brief in the main. PSG sought to overflow his flank, meaning that he was often faced with two-against-one situations that he struggled to quell. Did have one fierce shot from range as he cut inside onto his stronger foot.

• 
  1

  0

  2.00

  Ismael Traore

  Occasionally a little sloppy with the ball, he was fairly solid in his primary role as a defender. He won a number of headers, though at times he struggled to cope with the movement of the visiting forward players and relied on his colleagues for cover. Taken off with an hour gone.

• 
  0

  0

  2.50

  Paul Baysse

  Featured on the right side of a back five for the home side and generally coped admirably with the threat down his channel. Failed to make any impact going forward, though.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Ahmed Kantari

  A rugged display from the captain, who was primarily tasked with marking Ibrahimovic. Was determined in his individual duel against the Swede, and though he was caught out at times, his team-mates backed him well.

• 
  0

  0

  2.50

  Bruno Grougi

  Has struggled to regain the form that made him such a force last season, and after a promising start to this match, he offered little more than a defensive presence once Sissoko was dismissed.

• 
  0

  0

  2.00

  Kamel Chafni

  Struggled to have the important attacking influence on the Breton side that he has enjoyed in recent weeks as Brest were sitting so deep. Did try to pose problems with his long-range shooting, but this was largely in vain.

• 
  1

  2

  1.50

  Abdoulwahid Sissoko Flop of the Match

  Was not given the chance to face brother Momo, and found life rather difficult in the heart of the field, where some of his passing was dangerously astray. The holding player was rather overwhelmed, and his match ended early when he executed a horrible two-footed tackle on Lavezzi with only 35 minutes gone.

• 
  0

  0

  2.00

  Eden Ben Basat

  The Israel forward has been in fine form this season, and though he was isolated in this encounter for long periods, he held the ball up well and was as purposeful as possible when he attacked. Sissoko’s red card all but ended his effectiveness, though.

• 
  1

  0

  2.00

  Charlison Benschop

  Has started to elbow his way back into the Brest starting XI in recent weeks, and though he was a force in the air, he tended to drift too far from Ben Basat to form a genuinely effective pairing.

Substitutions

• 
  0

  0

  2.50

  Mario Licka

  Came on for Traore with nearly an hour gone and added some threat to the hosts.

• 
  0

  1

  2.00

  Jonathan Ayite

  Nearly scored one of the most bizarre goals of the season late on when he caught Thiago Motta dallying, but his effort went wide. Then had a header cleared from the line in his brief cameo.

Paris Saint-Germain

3.13

• 
  7

  1

  3.00

  Salvatore Sirigu

  The Italy No.1 had almost nothing to do in this encounter save a handful of kicked clearances and shepherd a number of long-ranges shots round his post. Repelled a Grougi free kick superbly.

• 
  26

  2

  4.00

  Thiago Silva Top of the Match

  The Brazilian’s world-class ability never came to the fore in this encounter simply because there was never a need for it to. Indeed, his most noticeable work came in the opposing box, where he was a threat from set pieces. Great goal line clearance in the 89th minute to deny Brest a consolation.

• 
  11

  1

  3.00

  Mamadou Sakho

  Started once again because of the continued absence of Alex due to injury, but was rarely stretched by the home side, who offered no attacking threat after going down to 10 in the first half. Saved a dangerous Grougi free kick when the game was effectively won.

• 
  6

  3

  3.00

  Maxwell

  Carlo Ancelotti knows exactly what to expect from solid-but-unspectacular left-back Maxwell, and this was a performance typical of the former Barcelona man, who never once provided fireworks but who did not make a single error.

• 
  6

  2

  3.00

  Christophe Jallet

  A dynamic performance down the right side of the PSG side, the full-back was eager to push forward, although he occasionally left space for the visitors to exploit on the break. When he was present in the back four, though, he was extremely solid, and he also provided a valuable offensive outlet. Created Ibrahimovic's opener and will try to claim the final strike, which will likely go down as an own-goal.

• 
  5

  5

  2.50

  Jérémy Menez

  Has often been a bubbly figure for PSG in attack this season, but he struggled to find the room to weave his magic against opponents who were tightly packed in a defensive sense. His array of flicks and tricks threatened to act as a catalyst to a goal, but it was not to materialise.

• 
  13

  1

  3.50

  Blaise Matuidi

  The all-action midfielder has been one of the stand-out players in Ligue 1 this season, but his energy was barely needed as PSG dominated this encounter from the outset. Most noted for his destructive talents, the ex-Saint-Etienne man was little more than an effective relay in the centre of the pitch.

• 
  7

  3

  2.50

  Javier Pastore

  Failed to build on recent performances, but was at least willing to get involved in the game. When it came to providing a final killer ball or dangerous shot on goal, the Argentine rather let himself down.

• 
  7

  1

  3.50

  Thiago Motta

  A sober performance from the ex-Inter man, who was largely content to offer a solid base for his side to build on in the centre of the park. Disrupted play well, but on the one occasion he got forward, the Italy international shot high from an Ibrahimovic pass. Nearly gifted away a bizarre goal right at the death, though.

• 
  9

  1

  3.00

  Ezequiel Lavezzi

  Characteristically busy, ‘El Pocho’ found it difficult at times to break through a sea of white shirts that packed the penalty box. Would certainly like to have been more productive.

• 
  34

  3

  3.50

  Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  Got himself on the scoresheet with a tidy finish, but will feel he could have had a feast of goals at Stade Francis-Le Ble. Goalkeeper Thebault denied the Swede with a string of fine saves, though ‘Ibra’ will likely feel he could have done better with a second-half one-on-one chance. His movement was phenomenal, though, and Brest could not contain him. Deserves special mention for a flying backheel effort that went just wide.

Substitutions

• 
  2

  0

  Zoumana Camara

  Played only a couple of minutes.

• 
  2

  0

  Clément Chantôme

  Arrived on the field late on.

• 
  10

  0

  3.00

  Kevin Gameiro

  Came off the bench to score with his first touch. Ancelotti could not have asked for more.