French media reaction to Newcastle’s display against PSG was very strange
Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain runs with the ball while under pressure from Lewis Miley of Newcastle United
An outstanding performance in the Parc de Princes by Newcastle United has earned them plaudits and praise both home and abroad after going toe to toe with the reigning Champions League holders.
Newcastle produced a stirring effort in France on Wednesday night to draw 1-1 with Paris St-Germain in front of 47,637 people. It was a brave and resilient display by the Magpies as they came within a whisker of reaching the top eight.
Harvey Barnes twice came close to winning the game late on as Newcastle looked the better side in the second period. They’d been in danger of being blown away in the first 20 minutes, but recovered to more than match one of Europe’s finest sides.
Admittedly, PSG aren’t firing on all cylinders yet but neither are Newcastle, and after Eddie Howe sprang a surprise with his team selection and formation, they more than deserved their 1-1 draw. It left fans in the stadium, and back home happy as Newcastle’s efforts were hailed – but seemingly also left a bitter taste in the mouth for certain sections of the French media.
French publication L’Equipe are renowned for their tough ratings and that was evident in some of the marks they gave the Newcastle stars after the game.
In particular, Lewis Miley was handed 4/10 despite a strong display from the youngster in an unfamiliar wing-back role. Granted, Miley struggled in the opening stages and Bradley Barcola got the wrong side of him after just 45 seconds which resulted in the Newcastle teenager being harshly adjudged to have handled the ball. It was an outrageous decision and for the next 15 minutes Miley was targeted down that side by the PSG attack.
However, the Stanley star grew into the game and in the second half had Barcola in his pocket, and even continued to stride forward giving Newcastle an attacking outlet. His overall display made the final mark issued by L’Equipe look pathetic.
Other strange marks by L’Equipe included a 5/10 for Sandro Tonali, who looked like he was getting closer to the levels we have seen from the Italian in recent games, and a 4/10 for Anthony Elanga, whose pace caused the PSG defence problems all night, although some of his end product was lacking.
Joe Willock and Dan Burn, arguably Newcastle’s best two players, were both awarded just 7/10 along with penalty hero Nick Pope.
L’Equipe said: “Miley was doubly at fault by letting Bradley Barcola go first, then by conceding a penalty which was the symbol of a completely failed start to the match for the English.
“The English defence took on water for 15 minutes, before resurfacing and showing solidarity throughout the rest of the meeting like a Dan Burn who was not very academic, but very effective.
“Little by little, the visitors regained a little more colour until the English equaliser from Joe Willock after a free kick played in the area. The winger was the most restless element of the Magpies.”
While Pope got a seven, the jittery and unconvincing PSG goalkeeper Safonov was given a six – just one mark less – although L’Equipe were brutal with some of his teammates, including legendary defensive duo Achraf Hakimi and captain Marquinhos, who both got 4/10, and Ballon’d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele.
Full L’Equipe Newcastle United marks: Pope 7, Thiaw 5, Botman 6, Burn 7, Miley 4, Ramsey 6, Tonali 5, Hall 5, Willock 7, Elanga 4, Woltemade 6.
L’Equipe’s PSG marks: Safonov 6, Hakimi 4, Marquinhos 4, Pacho 6, Nuno Mendes 5, Zaire-Emery 6, Vitinha 7, Neves 6, Barcola 5, Dembele 4, Kvaratskhelia N/A
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