Maccabi Haifa: Silky doubles from Messi and Mbappé, it was a nightmare evening for the small Israeli net

At the Parc des Princes,

It must have been an ordinary evening for them, one like so many others. Yes, often, the matches during the week, the eyes are a little more fixed on them. But, yet they do not change their dress of light. White polypropylene, which does not break despite repeated attacks. Beautiful stitches, in addition, to cheerfully and delicately welcome the balls that the players will send. Yes, Tuesday, the nets of the goals of the Princes Parkwhich hosted the Maccabi Haifa, were ready to do their job. But, there is one, in particular, which has been requested: the small net.

There had already been the beginnings of what was to become a memorable evening. From the warm-up, the stars of the PSG had decided to target him more specifically. There are reasons: the more he is hit, the closer the goal gets. And then, everything happened very quickly. The entry of the players onto the lawn, the assistant referee who comes to check its solidity, and Fabian Ruiz who just missed finding the inside of this small net from the 9th minute of play. It was only a postponement, for a goal of rare beauty.

The outside of Messi’s left

Served with tiptoe by Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi control. And there, time seems to stop. The Maccabi Haifa players do not climb on the Argentinian, the Frenchman, on the ground, looks at his partner and the small net, he does not suspect that he will receive in his meshes a marvel of outside with the left foot of the Pulga (19th). ” People come to the stadium to see Leo play, he is the best player in the history of football “, said Christophe Galtier after the victory against Ajaccio, Friday. It’s not just the people, there are the little nets, too.

We will find the Argentinian ten minutes later, at the start of the action which leads to the second goal scored by Kylian Mbappé. Served by Neymar, the French international benefits from a favorable counter to find himself with the ball in his feet in the left corner of the penalty area, and with enough time to prepare his favorite gesture: the rolled up right foot. The balance sheet is the same as for the Argentinian: small opposing net.

“For a coach, it’s the Holy Grail”

“JI know what each of them is capable of, commented Vitinha, when he was asked, in the mixed zone, if he was still surprised by the magic trio in front. I don’t think I’m surprised what they’re doing, it’s amazing. We need them and we are happy with what they are doing now. “A little more dithyrambic, despite his legendary restraint, Christophe Galtier, he indicated, in remarks relayed by The Teamthat “seeing them express themselves like that, for a coach, is the Holy Grail”.

As in the action of the fourth goal (44th), where Lionel Messi, after a new exchange with Kylian Mbappé, quickly extinguished the ardor of Maccabi Haifa, who had just reduced the gap on the scoreboard. A short left foot hook, a moment of delay, then a curling left foot strike, as in his heyday with Barça, to find the small net of poor Joshua Cohen, who went more times to get the ball in his goals than he made saves.

A coated double

Kylian Mbappé also went there with his double in the small net. This time, in the other goal, in the second half. After a tumble from his great mate Achraf Hakimi, the former Monegasque sends a wonderful curling shot, there too, of course, into the small net of Cohen (64th). Unstoppable. “Opposite there were the best players in the world, they proved it, commented Maccabi coach Barak Bakhar. We thought we could perform a miracle, but there is really a big gap between the two teams. »

For the mental health of the little net, we left it at that. Carlos Soler and Neymar were less observant in the impact zone. But, in the end, the result remains the same. The nets tremble, the public is unleashed and the Parisian players parade. And the show could happen again on Saturday, when PSG welcomes Troyes. Our dear little net will have to prepare to receive other gifts.