GUINGAMP, France — Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has faced a considerable amount of scrutiny for his inconsistent distribution since making a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In their Champions League playoff clash on Tuesday, he nearly gave critics a reason to further doubt him early in the 3-0 victory over Brest by mishandling a straightforward clearance.

Despite being under no duress, the Italian international misfired after receiving a back pass from captain Marquinhos, inadvertently kicking the ball directly toward the head of striker Ludovic Ajorque, who stood only a few meters away.
The moment was nerve-racking for Donnarumma as he watched the ball dangerously roll just past the goal.

Donnarumma’s past mistakes had already cost PSG dearly, as seen in their earlier group stage match where they fell 2-0 to Arsenal.
Fortunately, he narrowly escaped disaster in this instance, as shortly thereafter, Vitinha converted a penalty to put PSG ahead.
Ousmane Dembélé went on to score two additional goals, marking his impressive tally of 23 for the season, which includes a remarkable streak of 10 consecutive matches with a goal.

The match took place at Stade de Roudourou located in Guingamp, situated roughly 114 kilometers (70 miles) from Brest.
Due to the outdated condition of Brest’s own stadium, the venue for home matches was shifted to accommodate the Champions League requirements.
PSG left back Nuno Gomes had commented before the match that the condition of the pitch was “not very good,” and social media images reflected the field’s sparse grass and uneven surface.