In the 6th round of the Champions League league phase, PSG visited Athletic Bilbao and the match ended 0-0.

The two teams came into the game in very different situations: PSG were in the top 4 of the table and a win would have guaranteed them a place in the spring knockout stage, while Athletic were outside the playoff spots and risked missing out completely. Extra spice was added by the managerial duel – Ernesto Valverde once successfully replaced Luis Enrique at Barcelona.
By the way, Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi was in PSG’s matchday squad but stayed on the bench at the start.

Already in the opening minutes, Zaïre-Emery received the ball inside the box and shot with a turn – the ball went just past the far post. A little later, Mendes wasted a good free-kick by hitting the wall. On 19 minutes, Ruiz met a high cross to the left wing and tried to finish from a tight angle – over the bar. In the next attack, Marquinhos caught Sancet in his own penalty area and the Basques demanded a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

Midway through the half, Oihan volleyed a low cross from the right – well over. The Spaniards kept rocking PSG’s defence, and soon Safonov had to save his team by tipping a shot from under the crossbar over for a corner.

Barcola made a powerful run down the left, beat two defenders and played a diagonal pass from the byline to Ruiz – the latter’s finish was awkward and very inaccurate. In one moment, Safonov received a back-pass, was pressed by opponents and, instead of passing to the free Zabarnyi, played it into a contest and almost gifted the ball to the Spaniards.

Near the end of the half, Sancet headed a cross toward the far post but again had no luck. In the last minute of the half, Unai Simón saved Athletic from a certain goal: Zaïre-Emery played a through ball to Mayulu, who shot from point-blank range – the Basque keeper dived and pushed it round the post for a corner.

At the start of the second half, Luis Enrique brought on Illia Zabarnyi – the Ukrainian replaced the injured Marquinhos. Kvaratskhelia sped down the right and tried to cut the ball back, but Berchiche blatantly pushed his opponent in the back – the referee did not even show a yellow card.

PSG pinned the hosts near their own goal and bombarded Unai Simón, but without success. For the final half-hour, Désiré Doué came on – the Golden Boy had finally recovered from injury. On 65 minutes, Barcola escaped two defenders and hit the crossbar from about ten metres.

The game became end-to-end, but the ball stubbornly refused to go into the net. Yeray’s back-heel attempt alone was worth seeing! On 88 minutes, Simón made three saves in a row, and Berchiche blocked the fourth shot. In the end, it finished as a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

PSG earned 13 points and rose to 3rd place in the Champions League table. Athletic, with 5 points, are 28th.