At the Campus PSG, Naomie Feller ended the night celebrating with the ultras after driving Paris Saint-Germain to a 5-0 Champions League win over Leuven.
The Ligue 1 news
Feller responded emphatically to her omission from the France squad for the upcoming match against Latvia, producing two goals and two assists in PSG’s biggest European performance for some time.
The 24-year-old left winger, signed from Real Madrid this summer, had a direct hand in four of Paris’s five goals – a first for a PSG player in the Women’s Champions League. She was named player of the match after a display in which she completed every pass in the final third.
Her influence began in the ninth minute, when she delivered the cross for Rasheedat Ajibade to finish centrally. Feller then scored twice after the interval, reacting sharply to second balls in the 51st and 64th minutes.
Between those strikes, she released captain Sakina Karchaoui for PSG’s fourth goal. Feller left the pitch in the 76th minute to applause from the home support.
France coach Laurent Bonadei watched from the stands alongside assistant Stéphane Saillant. Bonadei, who did not include Feller for the Latvia friendly, left the Campus PSG shortly after the final whistle.
PSG have protected Feller from media duties since the match, citing her relative youth, but her team-mates were quick to praise her contribution.
“I am delighted for her,” Karchaoui said. “She settled in quickly. We expected her to bring her qualities out wide, and I am proud of her.”
Paris coach Paulo César said Feller had delivered exactly what was asked of her on the left flank.
“Her role was to take players on one against one,” he said. “She knows several members of the France squad, so she adapted quickly. She is very strong in duels, wins balls between the lines and reads the flight of the ball well. She used all of her qualities to create differences.”
“She helps the team a great deal, particularly defensively, and she has made a very good start to the season.”
The next appointment in France
France face Latvia in a friendly on Saturday 10 October, with Feller absent from Bonadei’s squad. Her PSG performance will strengthen her case for a recall when the national team gathers again at the end of the year.
