Verratti tests bounds of gamesmanship with goal in PSG's rout of Bastia
After PSG as good as kissed goodbye to its Ligue 1 title chances with last week’s defeat at Nice, the capital club continued to keep the pressure on leader Monaco with a 5-0 win at Bastia. The result was never in doubt, but most notable was the second goal, 10 minutes before halftime. Bastia goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca was checking on the injured Blaise Matuidi, lying just inside the pitch by his near post; Marco Verratti, spotting the keeper out of position, fired in a shot from 20 yards that cannoned in off the crossbar to put PSG 2-0 ahead.
The confusion came because Lucas Moura had asked his teammates to halt play so Matuidi could receive treatment. Bastia had seen that and had stopped. Leca was furious when the goal was given–even though Julian Draxler was blocking him in an offside position –and was booked for his protests.
“I’m a little upset, but that did not make us lose,” he told Canal Plus after the game.
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The result changes nothing at the top of Ligue 1: Monaco went to injury-ravaged Nancy and won 3-0 to remain on course for the title. Coach Leonardo Jardim only dropped one player, Kylian Mbappe, in between European semifinal legs against Juventus.
“I would not swap a win here for a win against Juve next week,” he said.
Winning Ligue 1 and reaching the last four in Europe is still quite a season by any standards for the club.
