They even ended up seducing the Clermont public. A week after their brilliant victory in the Champions Trophy against Nantes, the Parisians made a perfect copy in Clermont-Ferrand, at the start of the championship, Saturday August 6 (5-0). Neymar and Leo Messi were sparkling, and the Argentinian’s name was even chanted by spectators at the Gabriel Montpied stadium on the fifth Parisian goal.
And to think that Kylian Mbappé, embarrassed with the adductors, was not even present in Clermont on Saturday evening… In the absence of the French nugget, the other Parisian offensive stars shone at the start of the 2022-2023 Ligue 1 season. In line with their performance during the Champions Trophy, the Parisians delivered a very applied and very serious copy, both offensively and defensively against a team from Clermont too technically limited to worry the reigning French champions.
Christophe Galtier’s men were quick to shine in the opposing area, with the opener in the ninth minute from Neymar, served by Pablo Sarabia. With throw-ins in one or two touches of the ball and projections forward using the wings, the Parisians constantly brought danger into the Clermont camp, while the Auvergnats narrowly missed the edge of the surface on their few phases of ownership. In difficulty with each loss of ball, the Clermontois suffered on the counter flashes led by PSG, in particular on the second goal, scored by Achraf Hakimi, served by Neymar (26e).
Neymar, perfect copy
Perhaps tickled by the rumors around a supposed desire of PSG to sell him this summer, Neymar responded on the ground. All smiles, the Brazilian contributed greatly to the Parisian demonstration on Saturday evening, with a goal and three assists. Beyond that delivered to Hakimi, the Parisian number 10 also distinguished himself on a free kick, perfectly placed to allow Marquinhos to score the third goal with a header (38e).
And while PSG seemed to drop the pace a little in the last quarter of an hour, the Brazilian combined with Messi, and the Argentinian increased the score a little more (80e). But not satisfied, the Parisians were determined not to interrupt their attacking festival, which the sevenfold Ballon d’Or came to complete with a superb acrobatic return, applauded and greeted by the Clermont public (86e).
Brilliant and altruistic offensively, even though Mory Diaw had a good match in the Clermont cages, the capital’s players also showed that they were determined not to concede a goal. Unusually last season, PSG attackers also participated in the defensive efforts. The 3-4-3 established by Christophe Galtier already seems to have proven itself, with very physically sharp players, enough to make Montpellier tremble, who will present themselves at the Parc des Princes on Saturday August 13.