0-1: VAR, star at the Parc des Princes

VAR was established as the main enemy of the success of Wolfsburg vs. Paris Saint-Germain (0-1) in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League marked by two key plays with a difference of only a few minutes: from a possible penalty that was not called in one place, it was passed to another that was converted by Dominique Janssen, author of sole purpose of the conflict.

The line to go from euphoria to frustration is sometimes very fine. PSG turned it around in the second half, with just half an hour remaining as they celebrated the option to score from the penalty spot thanks to a knockdown inside the penalty area. From Karchaoui regretting a handball by Élisa Almeida that referee Rebecca Welch received. Janssen did not disappoint and the European ghosts returned to the Parc des Princes.

And it is, in the bad memory of the men’s first team, the women’s PSG showed up in their stadium wanting to give joy to their fans, who failed again in Europe just a few weeks ago. The continental summit ran away from both sections year after year and even lost both in the finals.

In the case of Paris Saint-Germain women, surrendered to FFC Frankfurt in the 2014/15 season and to Olympique Lyon on penalties in the 2016/17 edition. So far, they have yet to appear in another final and the feeling is not good for the French team after a difficult group stage.

Outclassed by Chelsea, they clearly beat weak Vllaznia from Albania. The pass was played at Real Madrid and it went into the hair. In contrast to Wolfsburg, more consistent and reliable lead group B against Roma with a powerful weapon: Ewa Pajor.

The Polish forward and his seven goals which make him the leading scorer in the Champions League, are the main threat for Paris Saint-Germain. Central defenders Élisa de Almeida and Grace Geyoro had a difficult mission on their hands, as stopping Pajor was not easy.

However, in the first part, both recognized the note. Pajor, who was always sought after by his teammates, was never able to get past the two PSG players and Wolfsburg’s dominance did not translate into any clear-cut occasions. Meanwhile, the team led by Gérard Prêcheur, in the counterattack, was able to disrupt the goal defended by Merle Frohms.

The Wolfsburg goalkeeper stopped only two PSG chances. The first, on the boots of Kadidiatou Diani, who tried it with a gentle shot at the start of the clash. And, the second, half an hour later, when he stopped Ramona Bachmann dead in her tracks, who after Marina Hegering was seated on the spot found herself with the saving legs of Frohms.

Hegerin is still waiting for another shock at the start of the second half. The Wolfsburg center collided with Karchaoui and the Parc des Princes celebrated with a penalty that was overruled by VAR with many doubts. Wolfsburg were barely saved and, almost on the next play, VAR again picked the German side.

Welch, after seeing some pictures for Élisa de Almeida’s possible handball inside the area, signaled the maximum penalty which Janssen missed. PSG went from glory to disappointment at one point and with one less player due to the dismissal of De Almeida (he saw two yellow cards) they did not succeed until the end.

In the box, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, with the face of events, may suspect another elimination from the Champions League. Wolfsburg started the path to take the baton from Bayern Munich and, for now, if there is no comeback in the second leg, two German teams will make PSG’s continental existence bitter. This time, VAR was decisive.

Data sheet:

Paris Saint-Germain: Bouhaddi; Lawrence, De Almeida, Geyoro, Karchaoui; Hamraoui, Jean-François, Bachmann (Fazer, min. 66); Groenen, Diani, and Baltimore (Vangsgaard, min. 66).

Wolfsburg: Frohms; Hendrich, Hegering, Janssen, Rauch; Oberdorf (Jondottir, min. 79), Lattwein; Huth, Roord (Brand (min. 73), Popp; and Pajor (Bremer, min. 89).

The objectives: 0-1 min. 62: Janssen, penalty.

Referee: Rebecca Welch (England). He showed yellow cards to Groenen (min. 27) and Fazer (min. 85) from Paris Saint-Germain and Brandt (min. 75) from Wolfsburg. He sent off De Almeida for a double warning (min. 37 and 61)) of Paris Saint-Germain.

Incidents: match equivalent to the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Women’s Champions League played at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris in front of nearly 35,000 spectators.