Paris Saint-Germain endured a frustrating night against Liverpool, falling to a late defeat in their Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, the French champions were unable to find a way past an inspired Alisson Becker.
However, much of the post-match discussion centered around a contentious moment involving Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté and PSG winger Bradley Barcola.
Controversial challenge sparks debate
Shortly before half-time, Barcola appeared to be brought down by Konaté near the edge of the penalty area, denying him a clear opportunity to test the Liverpool goalkeeper.
PSG players immediately appealed for a foul, with some suggesting the challenge warranted a red card.
However, neither the on-field referee nor VAR intervened, allowing play to continue.
After the match, Konaté addressed the incident in an interview with Canal+, firmly rejecting the notion that he had committed a foul.
“There is VAR, everything necessary is in place. For me, there is no foul. Why should there be? If there was a small push, should I have received a red card for that? I say no,” he stated.
“I just put my arm and that’s it”
While the French defender admitted there had been contact, he argued that it was minimal and not enough to warrant disciplinary action.
“It’s true that I am very strong, but I really didn’t put any force on it. I just put my arm and that’s it. If I had used more strength, then we could discuss it. But in this case, it was really soft on my part,” he explained.
The incident left PSG frustrated, particularly given the tight nature of the contest.
A decision in their favor could have significantly altered the course of the match, but instead, they now face the challenge of overturning the deficit in the return leg at Anfield.
PSG must regroup for second leg
With the tie still finely balanced, PSG will need to sharpen their finishing and find a way to break through Liverpool’s defensive resilience in the second leg.
While Konaté and his teammates will take confidence from their hard-fought victory, the Parisians will feel they were denied a crucial moment that could have swung momentum in their favor.
As the debate over the challenge continues, one thing remains certain—PSG must now deliver a response on the pitch if they hope to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.
