Summer remains the period of running in.
Paris Saint-Germain still has many areas for improvement, but life without Kylian Mbappé continues its course in the capital. The reigning champion returned to his Parc des Princes this Friday evening, a week after a well-negotiated first, on the pitch of Le Havre (4-1), in this 2024-25 campaign.
Given the last confrontations between the two clubs, we could expect a little fireworks for this poster as a curtain raiser for the 2nd day. Last season, the Parisians inflicted two slaps on the Hérault team (3-0 at the Parc des Princes and 6-2 at La Mosson). A scenario that was repeated at the start of this season, with a new uncontested victory.
PSG has delighted
Luis Enrique had brought out his gala eleven by starting Marquinhos, Hakimi, Barcola and Asensio, who played as a false 9 in his attacking line to numerically compensate for the absence of Gonçalo Ramos. The Portuguese nugget Joao Neves also started for the first time in the eleven after an already very impactful entrance a few days ago. And he did not take long to confirm his talent. Author of two new caviars, the summer reinforcement of PSG brought his total of assists to 4 units in 2 short matches!
But if we had to choose a trigger, Bradley Barcola would take the prize. On an opening from Neves, the French international striker took the entire Montpellier defense by surprise before concluding sharply with a “Romariesque” point (1-0, 3rd). Unstoppable, Barcola then triggered an action on which Joao Neves was the author of a perfect pass to Asensio, who was also very effective (24th).
By making things easier for themselves, the Parisians could have eased off. That was not the case. Industrious and bloody, Luis Enrique’s men demonstrated their superiority in all areas of the game, in front of a captivated crowd. The French champions further increased the score in the second half. A textbook move concluded by an exceptional Barcola (3-0, 53rd), a cross from Nuno Mendes taken up by his alter ego Hakimi (4-0, 58th), a small bridge-strike sequence from Zaire-Emery (60th) or a clear strike from the substitute Lee (6-0, 60th): the Parisian score was total. We were impatiently waiting for PSG without their providential man. We can already see a team with a capital T.
