PSG 1-0 Club Bruges: Thomas Tuchel’s side qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as Keylor Navas’ penalty save secures an unimpressive home victory
- Mauro Icardi, on-loan from Inter Milan, gave PSG the lead with a simple tap-in
- PSG went in 1-0 up at the break despite a sub-standard first half performance
- Bruges held their own, and were given a potential route back into the match
- Thiago Silva gave away a penalty for a clumsy foul on Senegalese Mbaye Diagne
- Diagne took it despite not being the penalty taker and Keylor Navas saved easily
- PSG’s four wins from four means one more point is needed for Group A top-spot
Paris Saint-Germain moved into the Champions League Round of 16 with a scrappy 1-0 home win against Club Bruges on Wednesday.
Striker Mauro Icardi continued his scoring form with the winning goal midway through the first half.
Bruges missed a chance to equalize in the 76th minute when forward Mbaye Diagne won a penalty after being clumsily fouled by PSG captain Thiago Silva, but placed his spot kick too close to goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Keylor Navas celebrates his second-half penalty save with centre back Presnel Kimpembe
Mauro Icardi scores from close range after the ball fell his way fortuitously in the six-yard box
Icardi celebrates his fourth Champions League goal of the season with right back Colin Dagba
Despite PSG dominating possession, Club Bruges were solid defensively during the first-half
PSG 1-0 CLUB BRUGES MATCH FACTS AND GROUP TABLE
PSG: Navas, Dagba, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Verratti (Sarabia 90), Gueye, Bernat, Di Maria, Icardi (Cavani 72), Mbappe (Draxler 83)
Subs not used: Sergio Rico, Kurzawa, Ander Herrera, Diallo
Goals: Icardi 21
Bookings: Silva, Verratti
Club Bruges: Mignolet, Kossounou, Mechele, Deli, Ricca, Vanaken, Balanta, Rits (De Ketelaere 86), Diatta (Schrijvers 77), Okereke (Diagne 67), Bonaventure
Subs not used: Sobol, Mitrovic, Horvath, Tau
Goals: None
Bookings: Balanta
Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)
Although PSG secured its fourth straight victory and is five points ahead of second-place Real Madrid in Group A – with 10 goals scored and none conceded – this was a lackluster performance where Brugge played the better football at times and PSG created few chances.
PSG winger Angel Di Maria had a free kick saved by goalie Simon Mignolet, and Brugge striker David Okereke went close with a curling shot in an even opening 20 minutes.
After a humiliating 2-1 defeat at last-place Dijon in the French league last Friday, PSG looked vulnerable early as Brugge made inroads several times down the right flank. But Icardi scored from close range in the 22nd minute, after Brugge’s defense made a mess of clearing right back Colin Dabga’s low cross.
The goal was awarded after a quick video review ruled out a possible offside for Icardi.
Kylian Mbappe controls the ball in the first-half but failed to find the back of the net in Paris
Simon Mignolet (R), who was signed from Liverpool, couldn’t keep a clean sheet for Bruges
PSG was caught napping early in the second half and Brugge forward Emmanuel Bonaventure drew a fine save from Navas, who was wrong-footed but sprang to his left to save his shot and then palmed away Okereke’s follow-up.
Bonaventure, who scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Real Madrid last month, was Brugge’s most lively player and the 21-year-old Nigerian caused problems on the counterattack with his pace and skill.
Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat trick two weeks ago when PSG won 5-0 in Bruges, had a frustrating night at Parc des Princes and was substituted near the end.
Brugge are in third place in Group A, one point ahead of Galatasaray in the Europa League qualification spot.
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel has led PSG to a maximum 12 points in the Champions League
