Nuno Mendes - the hero of Paris. PSG player ratings against Salzburg according to Dailysports
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
Despite their haul of Ligue 1 trophies, immense financial investment, and a lineup of world-class players, PSG has yet to claim the most coveted prize—the Champions League. In this season’s new UCL format, PSG barely scraped into the playoff qualification matches. Now, the fight for this trophy becomes even more intriguing amid rumors that the club’s Qatari owners are considering selling, reportedly disappointed with the project. PSG needs to win if they want to cement their status as a top club. Fortunately, today was their day.
Let’s talk about the heroes of this match…
Nuno Mendes - 9/10
Full-backs at PSG carry a massive workload, and Mendes is no exception. Operating along the entire flank, he contributes both in attack and defense. He excelled on all fronts: his goal against Salzburg showcases his attacking prowess, while his defensive stats—winning 6 out of 7 duels, multiple clearances, and 2 tackles—demonstrate his reliability.
Achraf Hakimi - 9/10 (supported by Ruiz and Lee)
Hakimi’s role mirrors Mendes’, but he spends more time in attack than in defense, as evidenced by his assists in this match. This translates into a higher number of crosses, passes, and actions in the penalty area compared to Mendes.
Hakimi’s true contribution, however, goes beyond the numbers—he acts as a coordinator for attacks on the right flank, frequently combining with Fabian Ruiz and Kang-In Lee. Together, they form a trio adept at systematically progressing the ball into the opponent’s box.
Bradley Barcola - 7/10
The departure of Mbappé has arguably worked in Barcola’s favor. Now a key figure for PSG, most attacks are channeled through his wing. While the right flank is dominated by the Hakimi-Ruiz-Lee partnership, Barcola covers the entire left flank with his talent.
Barcola is the team’s go-to player, often receiving the ball on his flank even when there’s space on the right. Though not every dribble or cross is successful, his workload and contributions in dribbling and delivering passes into the box earn him a high rating.
Notable mentions
It’s rare to see Gonçalo Ramos receive high marks. Constantly positioned upfront, Ramos regularly gets the ball in the box and creates problems for defenders but struggles to convert chances into goals. While Ramos isn’t the best striker in the world, his positioning didn’t help today—crosses were played too close to the goalkeeper, leaving Ramos with little room to maneuver.
Adding to the frustration, Ramos was subbed off for Désiré Doué, who ended up scoring a goal.
Other player ratings
- Vitinha - 7
- Donnarumma - 5 (not much work to do)
- Doué - 8
- Hernández - 5
- Zaïre-Emery - 5
- Lee - 7
- Marquinhos - 8
- Neves - 7
- Pacho - 7
- Ramos - 6
- Ruiz - 7
