But who will score goals for PSG in the absence of Kylian Mbappé? A first answer is given. After its 4-1 success in Le Havre at the start of the Ligue 1 season, Luis Enrique’s team swept Montpellier aside 6-0 on Friday evening during the first match at the Parc des Princes. Already a scorer when he came on last week in Normandy, Bradley Barcola once again made the net tremble. This time twice, as if to further validate his superb progression launched at the start of 2024.
Barcola opened the scoring right away with a lightning burst of speed and a shot that left Benjamin Lecomte on the spot (4th). Enough to further inflame the Parc des Princes, which was boiling over on this summer evening. The Parisian supporters booed the players as they came on, noting that the Phil Collins song had been removed. In reality, the capital club produced a new version of this passage from Who Said I Would (used since the 90s) but failed to disseminate it properly, as PSG’s communication explained to us.
Barcola served by Dembélé
Marco Asensio, who played up front after Gonçalo Ramos was injured (and was rather discreet in the game), doubled the lead with a second assist from Joao Neves (24th). It was at the start of the second half that the Parisians increased the score. Barcola scored his first career double on a pass from Ousmane Dembélé (53rd). In the process, Achraf Hakimi took a cross from Nuno Mendes (58th) and Warren Zaïre-Emery sprinted towards the Hérault goal to also score (60th).
Luis Enrique was then able to give playing time to his substitutes with the entries of Désiré Doué (who has just arrived), Lee Kang-In and Randal Kolo Muani at the hour mark. Against a Montpellier side still as underwater, it was the South Korean left-hander who increased the score with a long-range shot (82nd), Lee having already opened the scoring at Le Havre on the first day. This brand new PSG (without Kylian Mbappé) will have to be just as clear-cut offensively in a clash against Lille, Sunday next week.
