PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 1-0 Angers: Désiré Doué volley sees PSG crowned champions
Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 28, 05/04/25
Paris Saint-Germain were crowned Ligue 1 champions for the fourth consecutive season, thanks to a slender 1-0 victory over relegation strugglers SCO Angers at the Parc des Princes.
First-half dominance was not reflected in the scoreline. Angers completed just nine passes in the first 10 minutes and by the 35-minute mark, Vitinha alone had completed more passes than the visitors. However, it was Le Sco who had the first big chance with Esteban Lepaul slid in with PSG’s high-line exploited. The Angers forward’s first touch was poor, however, and took him towards Willian Pacho, who recovered to make the tackle.
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Farid El Melali then had a good chance after good work from Hamed Abdelli and Lepaul down the left but drifting across the box, his shot was blocked. After a second scare, Les Parisiens were awoken and their possessional dominance began to convert into chances. Gonçalo Ramos should have done much better with his free header from 10 yards but he mistimed his jump and missed the target. The excellent Yahia Fofana was then on hand seconds later to deny Vitinha’s long-range effort. Désiré Doué, PSG’s most endeavouring player in the first 45 got a shot away before the break but once again, Fofana was equal to it.
However, there was nothing that the Angers goalkeeper could do early in the second half as Doué did get his goal, volleying home Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ball to the back post. Fofana then made a save from Fabián Ruiz from a near-identical situation just moments later to keep his side in it.
Completely in control, PSG continued to dominate possession, even if chances were infrequent. Fofana made a good save from Achraf Hakimi and then from Kvaratskhelia in injury time but it was comfortable with Angers failing to threaten Gianluigi Donnarumma at the other end. Les Parisiens saw out the win, securing the title, as expected, whilst also ensuring that they head into next week’s UEFA Champions League encounter with Aston Villa on a positive note.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5
Lucas Hernandez – 5
Willian Pacho – 6
Marquinhos – 5
Achraf Hakimi – 5
Fabián Ruiz – 5
Vitinha – 6
Warren Zaïre-Emery – 3
All of the confidence and swagger that defined his burst onto the scene have seeped out of his play. He cut a nervous figure, making simple, unforced errors without pressure being applied. His cross into Ramos, which should have led to a goal, shows that his technical quality has not deserted him but he certainly needs to rediscover something more intangible to become the player that everyone expected him to become when he became PSG’s new poster boy.
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Désiré Doué – 7
Whenever he got on the ball, he made something happen. He is the most endeavouring of the PSG forwards at the minute and doesn’t hesitate to rush into 2-v-1 situations or try his luck from range. He has the confidence and the technical quality to match. Those Neymar comparisons will continue to be drawn.
Gonçalo Ramos – 3
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 5
Not the Georgian’s best performance by any stretch and he was often wasteful on the ball but his sumptuous ball to find Doué at the back post for the only goal of the game showcased his ability.
Himad Abdelli – 6
Yahia Fofana – 7
Once again, the 24-year-old goalkeeper showed that he is ready to take a step forward in his career. Confident on the ball, excellently positioned and equal to much of what PSG threw at him, he has all the elements of the ideal modern goalkeeper. That will not be lost on recruiters.
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Esteban Lepaul – 4
