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When the Riviera turned into a Parisian parade
Paris Saint‑Germain arrived at the Estadio de la Cerámica looking for a souvenir and left with a full‑size trophy case in their heads. Six goals later the hosts were still trying to locate the net, while PSG’s attack wrote a love letter to the Champions League group stage.
From the first whistle, Lionel Messi’s ghostly presence was felt in the space between the lines. Doué, who had been a quiet footnote in the first half, exploded at the 23rd minute, slipping between two defenders to fire home a low‑driven finish. The French‑Ivorian’s rating of 8.76 was the highest on the night – a performance that reminded everyone why he’s on the radar for a permanent starting spot.
A second came ten minutes later when Fabián Ruiz, the quiet engine in midfield, surged forward, collected a loose ball, and clipped a one‑two with Dembélé before slotting it past the bewildered keeper. Ruiz’s 8.66 rating underlined his growing influence in a side that has often looked like a collection of stars without a nucleus.
Villarreal, meanwhile, tried to stitch together a defence with the sort of optimism you only see in a late‑night infomercial. Arda Güler, the Turkish prodigy, earned an 8.46 for his relentless pressing and a couple of moments where he almost turned the tide, but his heroics were eclipsed by the relentless Parisian barrage.
Antony and Isco, both listed as Villarreal’s stand‑outs in the official sheet (a curious clerical quirk), posted respectable 8.07 and 8.20 scores respectively, but their flair was wasted on a side that spent more time chasing shadows than creating chances.
The final three goals were a masterclass in clinical finishing. Dembélé, with an 8.18 rating, darted down the left, cut inside and curled a shot into the top corner. Vítinha, the quiet Portuguese winger, capped the night with a late strike that made the scoreboard look like a neon sign. His 8.14 rating reflected a night of relentless width and pace.
In the group, PSG’s six‑nil victory catapults them to the top of their section, tightening the race for the knockout round and leaving rivals scrambling. Villarreal’s morale takes a hit; they slip further from the safety zone, and the points gap now looks a touch more daunting.
The takeaway? Paris have turned the Champions League into a personal runway, while Villarreal will need more than a few flashes of brilliance to keep the lights on.
Player Ratings
- Désiré Doué (PSG) – 8.76
- Fabián Ruiz (PSG) – 8.66
- Arda Güler (Villarreal) – 8.46
- Kylian Mbappé (Villarreal) – 8.38
- Isco (Villarreal) – 8.20
- Antony (Villarreal) – 8.07
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) – 8.18
- Vítinha (PSG) – 8.14