PARIS — In a disappointing turn of events, Coach Luis Enrique’s decision to bench Gianluigi Donnarumma in favor of Matvei Safonov for the Champions League matchup against Bayern Munich proved to be a costly error, resulting in a 1-0 defeat for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).


This setback marked the third loss for PSG in five Champions League encounters, significantly increasing the risk of the club being one of the 12 teams eliminated in the new 36-team league phase format. Despite being repeatedly pointed out by Enrique, the team’s failure to convert scoring opportunities does not fully account for their string of defeats. The real challenges arise from significant blunders made by both goalkeepers.


Currently positioned in 26th place, PSG still has a daunting task ahead as they are set to face Manchester City. Being knocked out in the group stages of such a prestigious tournament—especially with clubs like Belgian team Club Bruges outperforming them—would mark a humiliating chapter for the financially potent and Qatari-backed club. Over the past 13 years, PSG’s owners, QSI, have invested heavily in efforts to establish the team as a force in European football, yet they have not secured a Champions League title and have only reached one final.


After the defeat to Bayern, PSG captain Marquinhos expressed concern, stating, “If we look at the standings, we are worried, that’s normal. We have three matches left.” The costly errors made by the goalkeepers are glaring; Donnarumma has been responsible for four mishaps, while Safonov accounted for one, completely misjudging a corner attempt that allowed Bayern to score easily.


Despite both keepers being the same age—25—their experience levels differ significantly. Donnarumma boasts nearly 400 combined appearances for both AC Milan and PSG, not to mention his pivotal role in helping Italy clinch the European Championship three years ago. On the other hand, Safonov, who transitioned to PSG from Krasnodar for a fee of 20 million euros (approximately $21 million) during the offseason, remains relatively inexperienced at the highest levels of competition.


Enrique’s decision to select Safonov was presumably influenced by Bayern’s aggressive pressing style, which he felt the new keeper would handle better than Donnarumma, known for his struggles with distribution. However, Safonov’s inexperience makes it more understandable when he falters, yet it highlights that he may not yet be cut out to be PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper. The concerns surrounding Donnarumma are even more troubling as his issues with claiming corners—an ongoing problem that plagued him last season—continue to haunt the team.


Doubts about Donnarumma’s future at PSG have surfaced following his benching for such a crucial match. Ironically, footage captured him appearing relaxed and chatty with teammates while seated on the bench prior to kickoff. The upcoming French league match against struggling Nantes poses a pivotal decision for Enrique: should he give Safonov another chance in a match that should be straightforward, or should he restore Donnarumma to his role as the starting goalkeeper to reaffirm his status?