Paris Saint-Germain won against Montpellier this Friday, opening the 11th day of Ligue 1 (3-0).
At the heart of this reconstruction season, Luis Enrique is making progress on his project. Although his team’s production remains uneven, Paris Saint-Germain’s balance sheet is starting to take shape. Before the start of this match against Montpellier, the reigning champion remained on three victories in a row at the level of Ligue 1 – four adding his prestigious success against AC Milan in the Champions League. In short, all the lights were green for Kylian Mbappé and his gang.
It was still necessary to continue this series against an opponent who had nothing to lose. Well stuck in the soft underbelly of the ranking, Montpellier approached this trip to the Parc with the idea of making a success. Michel Der Zakarian did not have a revolutionary game plan, but hoped for a reduction in the vigilance of the Parisian armada, as is often the case in similar circumstances, when the Champions League begins to appear on the horizon again.
In this context, Luis Enrique’s choices aroused curiosity. Accustomed to blurring the lines since his arrival, the Spanish technician had several options: rehearse his ranges in preparation for the clash at San Siro against AC Milan in four days, or draw on the reserves of his squad to spare the bodies and still rely on an experimental eleven with four professional attackers. The PSG coach made a mix of the two, incorporating the classy Lee Kang-in alongside the overly Mbappé-Dembélé-Kolo Muani.
Paris unfolded
Unbalanced on this paper, this tactical balance of power offered a configuration as old as football: Montpellier proposed a dense grid to reduce the spaces as much as possible against a PSG team that was proactive with the ball. A great classic. For the Parisians, the challenge was to avoid the trap set by their opponent by securing defensive transitions. There was no question of reliving the scenarios of Nice (2-3) or Clermont (0-0) in comparable timing.
A vigilance which translated into great application in the Parisian ranks. Seriously, the French champions were able to be effective on both surfaces to have a quiet evening. Because they didn’t have to think for long. Despite some shivers from the first very vertical actions of the Héraultais, Paris struck first with a clear action. Put into orbit by Dembélé, Hakimi distilled a precise cross towards Mbappé, whose feint to let the ball pass benefited Lee, author of a perfect strike from the top corner (1-0, 10th).
An opening score which did not encourage the Parisians to take their foot off the gas. On the contrary, Luis Enrique’s gang continued to recite their scales in an attempt to make the break. Very strong, Dembélé made terrible differences on this side, and it is a shame that his lack of precision prevented him from making them come to fruition, once again.
Overall, Paris alternated between control and speed, led by Lee who is starting to look like a repeat starter, rather than a simple replacement option. The Parisians thus made the break after the break with Zaire-Emery, who never ceases to impress, after a virtuoso action with Dembélé (2-0, 57th). A fatal blow before the final blow, signed Vitinha, who came on before unleashing a clear shot on a new offering from Hakimi (3-0, 67th). Paris did almost everything well, before a quiet end to the match. The contract is fulfilled. With mention.
