His 27th birthday was supposed to be remembered for victory and applause, but instead Achraf Hakimi left the pitch in tears. In the PSG — Bayern match, the first half stretched to the 53rd minute, and the defining moment was Luis Díaz’s two-footed challenge from behind. VAR intervened, the caution turned into a sending-off, and PSG were left without one of their most important players before the break — and possibly for weeks.
A Brace, Stoppages, and Nerves: How the First Half Boiled Over
By midway through the half, Díaz had completed his brace, Bayern led 2–0, and eyes were already on the interval. Italian referee Maurizio Mariani added three minutes, yet a prolonged stoppage kept the teams out there: the scoreboard even ticked to 53. The atmosphere was on a knife-edge — every challenge cracked, and every attempt to play out of the press was a battle.
A Chilling Moment: A Two-Footed Lunge From Behind
At the start of the third minute of added time, Hakimi hit the gas and was pulling away from the winger in PSG’s half. In response, the Colombian dove into his opponent’s legs — a lunge from behind, effectively a two-footed leap. On the touchline, Vincent Kompany gestured in protest, hinting at simulation and signaling for the defender to get up. Mariani immediately showed Díaz a yellow, while Hakimi writhed in pain, clutching his left leg.
VAR Doesn't Forgive: Yellow Upgraded to Red
The replays were merciless. The leap itself looked excessively aggressive, and Hakimi’s ankle was literally caught in “scissors” between his opponent’s legs. The referee was called to the monitor — and the card was duly upgraded to red. While PSG’s medical staff worked on the injured ankle, tears glistened on the Moroccan’s face. There was no question of continuing: the substitution followed immediately.
A Blow to Paris's Plan: Two Forced Changes Before the Break
This incident became the hosts’ second personnel blow before half-time: Ousmane Dembélé had already gone off earlier. Deprived of pace and penetration on the right, PSG lost their usual balance in build-up and counters: without Hakimi, adjustments against the press grow heavier, the width narrows, and runs from deep become more predictable. At 0–2, the coaching staff had to redesign both the flank dynamics and the first-phase build-up.
A Medical Verdict? Ankle, Ligaments, and Timelines
Madrid-based physiotherapist Angel Villanueva suggested that the nature of the incident points to damage or a tear of the ankle ligaments. In such cases, recovery typically takes six to eight weeks — a range dependent on the degree of sprain, swelling, and response to initial immobilization. For a player whose game is built on sharp accelerations, tempo shifts, and explosive bursts down the touchline, even the lower end of that timeline feels painfully long.
A Birthday Without Candles: Home AFCON in Jeopardy
The irony: it was on Tuesday that Hakimi turned 27. Now his participation in a home Africa Cup of Nations is in doubt: the tournament is scheduled to start on December 21, with Morocco hosting for the first time since 1988. Losing the captain and emotional leader is a blow not only to the tactical structure but also to the dressing-room spirit. For a team that leans on defensive discipline and lightning-quick transitions, Hakimi’s absence isn’t just a loss of speed — it’s a loss of an idea.
After the Storm: How PSG and Morocco Cope Without Hakimi
PSG will have to rebuild the right flank: more cover shifts for the right-sided center-back, a more cautious starting height for the full-backs, and an emphasis on early balls in behind rather than drawn-out baiting. We may see an asymmetrical shape more often, with a deeper right side and an overload on the opposite flank. Morocco will seek a compromise between reliability and speed: either experience with a conservative full-back or the risk of trusting a young understudy who must grow up fast.
This evening in Paris was meant to be another showcase of top football, but it will be remembered differently: as an illustration of how thin the line is between robust challenges and dangerous play. The red card for Díaz is a formality of the protocol; Hakimi’s injury is a wound that will take time to heal. And the main question remains: can PSG and Morocco quickly find answers where, only yesterday, none seemed necessary?
