PSG’s offensive festival crushes Montpellier 6-0

After two league games, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shows no mercy. Victorious at Le Havre 4-1 on the first day of Ligue 1, the Parisians blew Montpellier away on Friday, August 23, by winning 6 goals to 0 at the Parc des Princes in the opening of the 2^e daytime.

This “new look” PSG – meaning without Kylian Mbappé, who left for Real Madrid – relied on its youth on Friday evening, with in particular a double from Bradley Barcola (21 years old) and two new assists from the Portuguese Joao Neves (19 years old).

The duo struck hard from the start: launched by Barcola, Joao Neves left his opposite number behind before striking powerfully to hit the post (1-0, 4^e). PSG continued their momentum with rapid ball circulation and stifling pressure. “We have improved again” in pressing, coach Luis Enrique will say after the match. “It’s not mandatory but I see that players like to do it now”.

Asencio as a fake number 9

Montpellier nevertheless did not do badly to get out of this mess and offered themselves a first shot with Téji Savanier in the 18th minute.^e minute. And another thrill with a deflection by Khazri which could have hooked the small Parisian net (41^e).

But Barcola had dealt a second blow in the 24th minute^e minute. He brought the ball up, initially appearing to be quite alone, before finding a pass between Montpellier’s legs towards Joao Neves, posted at the edge of the area. The Portuguese recruited from Benfica Lisbon made a subtle deflection towards Marco Asensio, the false number 9 of the evening who easily converted the offering (2-0). This is already the fourth assist in two Ligue 1 matches for Joao Neves.

The midfielder also shone with several recoveries, always appearing to be positioned in the right place. And the other man of the evening, Barcola, continued his attacking festival and found the bar (26^e).

Paris almost fell back into its old ways again on a defensive set piece, after the free-kick goal conceded to Le Havre. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who did not come out, had to make a reflex save, in front of a defense caught off guard (29^e).

Energetic entrance of Désiré Doué

At the start of the second half, the Parisians accelerated again. Ousmane Dembélé managed to cross at the end of the run for Barcola who calmly scored his second goal of the evening (3-1, 53^e) and already his third in the championship this season.

Five minutes later, Achraf Hakimi scored the fourth goal by skilfully taking on an aerial cross from Nuno Mendes. And in the process, Warren Zaire-Emery, 18, came to show his talent by hooking in the surface before finishing with a low shot (5-0, 60^e).

The party was only waiting for Désiré Doué, recruited a week ago from Rennes, but his energetic and voluntary entry did not result in a goal. PSG even conceded several clear chances, which Donnarumma blocked.

But Lee Kang-in, who came on as a substitute and had already scored at Le Havre, put the record straight with a long-range shot cleverly placed at the near post (6-0, 82^e). “We were overwhelmed”acknowledged Montpellier technician Michel Der Zakarian.

“We didn’t see one star, but sixteen stars”

“I think we didn’t see one star, but sixteen stars who came to defend the colours of PSG”stressed Luis Enrique, counting the five substitutes who came on. “Sixteen stars in attack, sixteen stars in defense, that’s perfection, that’s what we’re looking for.”he continued in an allusion, even if he did not name him, to the Mbappé version of PSG.

While waiting for the other matches of the weekend, PSG, the reigning champion, takes the lead in the standings with six points. “It was the perfect evening, it was the return to the Parc des Princes after long weeks without football, and we were completely complete both in attack and defense”insisted the Parisian coach.

It is true that with each goal, the Parc des Princes gave in to ecstasy a little more, despite the small part of the stands being closed due to smoke bombs at the end of last season, and despite the heavy atmosphere at the start of Ligue 1. Before the match, supporters held up a banner against the president of the Professional Football League (LFP) Vincent Labrune: “the blonde who became less stupid than Labrune”The manager is accused of having sold the TV rights for Ligue 1 to DAZN, which offers a subscription deemed excessive by supporters, at 29.99 euros per month for eight matches per weekend.