PSG Win Ligue 1 Opener Against Le Havre
Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their post-Kylian Mbappé era with a 4-1 win over Le Havre in their Ligue 1 opener. But, let’s not sugarcoat it – the performance was far from convincing. Despite dominating possession and creating a flurry of chances, it wasn’t until the final five minutes that they clicked into gear, scoring three unanswered goals.
[Image: Ousmane Dembélé scores PSG’s go-ahead goal]
Manager Luis Enrique expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s first-half showing, stating, "Maybe we started too calmly. We scored a goal very quickly and that relaxed us a bit too much." The visitors had to work hard to break down the opposition’s solid defense, and an injury to Gonçalo Ramos, who had to be replaced by Randal Kolo Muani in the 20th minute, only added to their struggles.
However, PSG did manage to show flashes of brilliance. Lee Kang-in’s goal in the 3rd minute gave them an early lead, and although they squandered several chances, Ousmane Dembélé’s late header proved to be the turning point. The 21-year-old Dembélé’s header was his first goal of the season, and it kickstarted a rampant PSG display that saw Bradley Barcola and Kolo Muani add to their tally in the final minutes of the match.
Another youngster, João Neves, claimed two assists and looked sharp throughout the game, but it’s clear that PSG still have a lot to work on if they’re going to make a title push this season.
So, what does this win mean for PSG? While it’s a positive result, it’s hard to get carried away after such a disappointing performance. But, with a new-look squad and a young, inexperienced backline, these early-season woes were probably to be expected. What’s crucial is how they respond in their next matches, starting with their clash against Troyes next week.
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