In their first competitive game of the season, Paris Saint-Germain won another trophy by beating FC Nantes 4-0 in the Trophée des Champions.
After a promising summer preparation and 4 victories in as many friendlies, Paris Saint-Germain started the season with a top French football match: the Trophée des Champions! And what better way to kick off the season than with a historical clash against FC Nantes, against a man very familiar with the club in Antoine Kombouaré?
For Christophe Galtier and his men, it was time to move from theory to practice! And while the manager took on his coaching duties for the first time - and starting in his 3-4-1-2 system - the eleven Parisians had decided to get ready for the occasion...
It was expected to be a clash of styles between the attack-minded Paris and the ultra-defensive Nantes, and there was plenty of that. But from the very beginning of the match, the Rouge et Bleu gave everything they had to break down the Nantes defence: Messi tried his luck, Verratti's played some beautiful passes to Sarabia, Vitinha and Neymar Jr combined well, and there was even a huge chance created by the Kimpembe-Marquinhos duo (13').
In the end, it was the Neymar Jr - Messi duo that provided the first real breakthrough after a chance for the Canaries. The Brazilian, with his usual flair, found a brilliant opening for the Argentine, who dribbled past a stunned Lafont to score (1-0, 25').
The Ney-Messi connection was up and running! And it was the No10 who made the breakthrough with a superb right-footed free-kick, sending a shiver down the spine of everyone in the stadium just before the break (2-0, 45+5').
Galtier's men came back from the break with a good lead and continued their fine form, confirming all the good things they have been doing since the beginning of the summer. Sergio Ramos, who had been the first scorer in pre-season, was also on target with a superb back-heel (3-0, 57’)!
Neymar Jr. then added to the score with a penalty that he won himself (4-0, 81').
The final flash of a match in which the Parisians were in complete control. The French champions didn't miss a beat in their first game of the season, as they were able to collect their first trophy with a very complete performance. A first step that lays the foundations for the 2022-23 season.