Six months of waiting and one incredible save changed everything. Matvey Safonov made his first appearance since May 24 and, in just two moments, shifted the goalkeeper hierarchy at PSG.
As Luka Chevalier watched himself losing his position from the stands, Safonov played as though he had been training alongside Buffon instead of spending the last few months on the bench. At the 28th minute, with the score still 0-0, Esteban Lepol struck from distance, with the ball deflecting off Pacho towards the near corner. Yet, Safonov made an impossible save.
In the subsequent attack, Kvartskhelia scored. The match could have swung to 0-1, but instead, it became 1-0.
Statistics don’t lie: in 20 games, 22 goals were conceded, with a save percentage of 69.2% in Ligue 1 and an underwhelming 46.7% in the Champions League. After conceding three goals against Tottenham, PSG fans unanimously took to social media, writing, "Bring back Safonov."
Despite this, coach Enrique continued to trust Chevalier, but an ankle injury during the match against Monaco put an end to the debate. Over the summer, the club’s €40 million investment in Chevalier was seen as a move for the future.
Now, however, it has turned into a present-day issue, especially when the alternative on the bench delivered an 87.5% save rate in two Champions League games last season.
During a press conference held after a 5-0 victory over Rennes, the Spanish coach firmly addressed questions about the absence of Ukrainian defender Ilya Zabarnyi in the squad and the promotion of Safonov to the starting lineup: "Unbelievable! You keep asking and creating problems.
Zabarnyi is sick. He’s been unwell for two days—end of story."
Safonov’s coach Vitaliy Kafanov calmly remarked: "Safonov played as if he hadn’t been off the pitch for months. There was no sign of nerves or doubt in any moment.
Now, his chances of playing in the starting eleven are very high." Safonov’s first coach, Alexey Chistyakov, also commented: "Everyone advised him to go out on loan, but he firmly declined.
It seems he believed he could compete with Chevalier." On December 10, PSG will face Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, followed by an away Ligue 1 game against Metz on December 13.
Two matches in four days. If Enrique benches Safonov after his superb performance and reinstates Chevalier, fans will not understand the decision.
Meanwhile, Matvey wrote with composure on his Telegram channel: "Reflecting on last night, I realize I never doubted myself for a second. I felt confident.
Having spent the last six months preparing and waiting, it felt bizarre to experience any anxiety before the match." The wait won’t be long — by Tuesday, we’ll know whether Enrique accepts the obvious or not.
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