A successful return against Angers!

It was back to work this Friday evening at the Parc des Princes! After the international break, Paris Saint-Germain returned to their stadium to welcome Angers, with a clear goal: to consolidate their position at the top of the league and to get back used to each other before the Champions League returns. With many of the team's key players missing from the squad after their international campaigns, Mauricio Pochettino fielded an unchanged line-up for the game. 

Marco Verratti's touch in the middle, Kylian Mbappé's bursts of speed up front and Kimpembe's ferocious tackles at the back started this evening of football with a bang. However, they needed to put their foot on the accelerator to break through the Angevins' block. And although Rafinha (7') and Mauro Icardi (17') were the first to have their efforts, it was the SCO who broke the deadlock through Fulgini on the counter-attack (0-1, 36'). Ander Herrera thought he had equalised just before half-time but his goal was eventually flagged offside (44').

They had to wait for the second half to turn the tide. Patience, creativity and togetherness were the key words for the rest of the game against a very compact block. And as the Parisians began to create gaps, they were also able to count on substitutes Gini Wijnaldum and the returning Juan Bernat, who was warmly welcomed by his fans, to increase the pressure. And it was Danilo Pereira who got the Rouge et Bleu back on track. The Portuguese midfielder's powerful header from Kylian Mbappé's cross was enough to send the ball into the back of the net (1-1, 69').   

It was all the more reason for the players from the capital to take the initiative. And Pochettino’s men piled the pressure on, as shown by Verratti's clever pass to Herrera shaving the post. But it was from the penalty spot that the Parisians finally sealed their victory. After a move started by Kylian Mbappé, Mauro Icardi won a penalty that the French world champion converted without hesitation. (2-1, 87'). 

And they nearly added to their tally when Wijnaldum hit Paul Bernardoni's post in the final minutes of the game (89'). It was a scoreline that saw Paris snatch victory, continuing their unbeaten run at the Parc des Princes and their run at the top of the league. It has been a successful start to the new season in Ligue 1, and now it's time to focus on the Champions League with the home game against Leipzig on Tuesday!