Without Lionel Messi or Neymar, Paris-Saint-Germain continued in Brest their flawless Ligue 1 (4-2), Friday August 20 in Brest. The Parisians temporarily take the lead in the standings, with three lengths ahead of Angers and Clermont.
Certainly, given the immense resources and ambitions of PSG, the full box at this stage of the Championship does not represent much for a club that wants to win everything this season. But it has been two years since he last succeeded, proof of the good momentum that coach Mauricio Pochettino is creating.
As in the first two days, Paris scored twice in the first period – Ander Herrera with a recovery of 25 meters (23e) and Mbappé (36e) – to open the way to easy success. But, as in the first two days, his defense gave way, in the absence of his usual boss, Marquinhos.
Brest took advantage of it by Franck Honorat (42e) and Steve Mounié (85e) to believe in it to the end. His five goals conceded since the start of the Championship represent the worst Parisian total of the Qatari era that began in 2011.
Unperturbed Di Maria
The defense will also depend on the fate of the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trident that the whole world expects to see on the ground. In Brest, in a sold-out stadium, some supporters wore a scarf or a shirt from FC Barcelona, the club where the Argentine “Pulga” built their legend. But it is in Reims, next Sunday, that he could make his debut as a Parisian.
He will have at his side a Mbappé in legs, who scored in Finistère his first goal of the season. Twice decisive passer against Strasbourg (4-2) last weekend, “Kyky” has taken over the role of goalscorer he adores. He placed an opportunistic header, after the fallout of Georginio Wijnaldum’s deflected shot.
Two Parisians have signed their return to Brest: Idrissa Gueye and Marco Verratti. The Senegalese, who contracted the coronavirus at the end of July, celebrated his return with a 40-meter cannon shot. The “Little Owl” played his first match since the Euro final won with Italy on July 11. He played 70 minutes in his style, with relentless activity and… a yellow card.
In attack, Di Maria also made his reappearance, replacing Mbappé for the last ten minutes. Unperturbed by the crazy pressure from Brestois not far from 3-3, he sealed the fate of the match with a lob against (90e). His classy gesture concluded another spectacular night for a team that doesn’t need all of their stars to put on the show.