Mahrez was twice as good as Messi, say the French
RIYAD Mahrez was twice as good as Lionel Messi in Manchester City’s Champions League win over Paris SaintGermain - and Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan were not far behind.
That was the verdict from French newspaper L’Equipe in their notoriously tough player ratings after the Blues’ 2-1 win saw them top the group and ease into the knockout stage.
The sports paper handed Messi a four out of 10 for a largely anonymous display, but Paris-born Mahrez was singled out as the best player on the pitch with an impressive eight, ahead of Bernardo and Gundogan, both with seven.
They said: “Yes, he delivers the almost decisive pass to (Kylian) Mbappe (for the goal), yes, he initiates some situations by his work as a pivot between the lines, but we are entitled to expect more from a six-time Ballon d’Or. In the build-up of the game, he must do more.
“Some of his choices were hit and miss. More worrying, sometimes, he was overwhelmed against defenders.”
They singled out Mahrez as the main source of City danger with his ‘dangerous dribbling’, giving him eight out of ten, while the lowest Blues mark went to Aleks Zinchenko, playing in midfield, who got a Messi-like four.
Mahrez was instrumental in the winning goal, delivering a pinpoint cross to Bernardo Silva at the far post - his cushioned touch teed it up nicely for Gabriel Jesus to sweep into the net - but he was also a constant menace down the City right.
The two other members of PSG’s fabled MNM strikeforce fared little better, with goalscorer Mbappe and Neymar both getting five.
PSG’s best players were seen as goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and centre-backs Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe, who all got six out of 10, a reflection of the Blues’ domination of the game.