[GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 20: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy and PSG reacts during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Spain and Italy at Arena AufSchalke on June 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 20: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy reacts during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Spain and Italy at Arena AufSchalke on June 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)](https://football-italia.net/why-psg-dropped-donnarumma-for-bayern-munich/) Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma was not selected for PSG’s 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and Luis Enrique’s comments suggest that the decision to play Matvey Safonov instead was due to his ability on the ball.
Donnarumma was left on the bench for the 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, and was also among the substitutes for PSG’s 3-0 win over Toulouse in Ligue 1 over the weekend.
Though Donnarumma has still started in the majority of PSG’s games so far this season, he missed two games through injury, while Safonov was preferred on two further occasions in Ligue 1, and twice more in the Champions League.
MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: Kim Min-Jae of Bayern Munich scores his team's first goal past Matvey Safonov of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on November 26, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 26: Kim Min-Jae of Bayern Munich scores his team’s first goal past Matvey Safonov of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on November 26, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Why PSG dropped Donnarumma for Bayern Munich
“We knew we would have difficulty against their pressing, and in this case the only ‘free’ player would be the goalkeeper,” Luis Enrique said about his selection after full-time, reported via Calciomercato.com.
“All players have to be able to play, and I wand Safonov, Donnarumma and Tenas to always be ready. For me this is a message that applies to every position, and today Safonov guaranteed us a numerical superiority.”
Though Enrique hailed Safonov’s ability on the ball, he was largely at fault for the only goal of the game, scored by former Napoli defender Kim Min-jae.
Bayern Munich were able to get themselves ahead at the Allianz Arena after a defensive horror show in the area, which saw Safonov flap at the cross and several other defenders missing their chance to get it clear before Kim converted.
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