The moment had been closely watched. On Wednesday night at San Mamés, Illia Zabarnyi came on at halftime of Bilbao–PSG to replace Marquinhos, who had been forced off with an ankle injury.
Zabarnyi–Safonov: a first, under geopolitical tension. Sportingly, nothing unusual — but symbolically, everything was different. For the first time, the Ukrainian defender was on the pitch at the same time as Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, a pairing loaded with political resonance.
Since Zabarnyi’s summer arrival in Paris, the topic has been sensitive. The war between Russia and Ukraine naturally places athletes from both countries under intense scrutiny, and Zabarnyi’s decisions have been watched carefully.
Last Saturday, his last-minute withdrawal — announced just after Safonov was confirmed as a starter — fueled speculation of internal tension. PSG attributed it to illness, but the timing left room for doubt.
Marquinhos injured, Zabarnyi has to play
In Bilbao, the situation shifted: with Marquinhos injured, Zabarnyi had no choice but to step in, answering the growing questions about his supposed refusal to play alongside the Russian keeper. The coexistence went smoothly, with both players contributing to a solid defensive second half.
This first association, even if forced by circumstances, marks an important step in PSG’s internal management. It shows that despite the undeniable geopolitical tension between their countries, Zabarnyi and Safonov can in fact play together under the same badge.
Whether this remains an isolated case or becomes the new normal will depend on Luis Enrique’s future choices — and on how the locker room absorbs the situation moving forward.
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