Inspired by an unstoppable Messi-Mbappé duo, Paris Saint-Germain wiped the floor with FC Nantes, picking up another win on the road on Matchday 6 of Ligue 1 (0-3). A look back on our Parisiens' performance!
It was with fond memories of a summer evening in Israel that our Parisiens came back up against Nantes, on Saturday, a little more than a month after the victory in the Trophée des Champions (4-0). And for this historic encounter between two of the top sides in French football, Christophe Galtier decided to maintain his team rotation with Juan Bernat and Pablo Sarabia coming into the starting eleven.
As with every away trip, our Rouge et Bleu were able to sense how keen the home side were to get a result: a stadium full to bursting, a well-organised side and a coach with history at the club, Antoine Kombouaré, all seeking to catch the visitors out. It was with these conditions in mind that our Parisiens played the game on their terms, showing lots of personality from the very get go.
It had to be said that they would need to be focused! First of all because a very attacking Canaris side, tried to get the Beaujoire to its feet with two chances one after the other for Moutoussamy and Appiah (11', 13'). Then because they were going to need to find a way past the ever-reliable Alban Lafont. But despite a miraculous stop from the Nantes keeper to deny Danilo's effort after a ball from Mbappé (14'), he wasn't going to be able to hold off the striking prowess of Kylain for long... And not one to disappoint, the World Champion opened the scoring!
It was following Sarabia's recovery of the ball that Messi was able to break through the middle before finding Mbappé, who beat the keeper with an impressive, unstoppable right-footed effort (1-0, 14').
Unfortunately, a coming together then changed the shape of the encounter, when a studs-up challenge saw Vitinha forced off. A tackle that saw Fábio see red (24'). It was with Renato Sanches and with the extra man that our Rouge et Bleu would start the second half. Well protected by a majestic central defence, inspired by a very in-form Kimpembe, the men from the capital then deservedly put Les Nantais under pressure. Leo Messi, involved in everything good across the pitch, came close to getting the second to put Les Bretons to bed... But the hosts held on until the break.
After returning from the dressing rooms, the home side looked to their strengths - the counter-attack, readiness to battle - in order to pull one back. But once again, it was the Messi-Mbappé duo that dizzied the hosts, with the Argentine getting the assist for the Frenchman's brace! (0-2, 54'). A 4th assist in two matches for our Pulga, the joint top provider in the league, on a par with a certain Neymar Jr (6).
Despite deservedly trailing, Kombouaré's side did all they could not to crack. Pallois cleared the ball off of his line after an excellent ball from Mbappé (61'), before Neymar Jr, entered the fray, bringing his own impact. And it was after the Brazilian's shot that struck the post that a ruthless Nuno Mendes, extended the visitors' lead (0-3, 68').
After another impressive team performance, our Parisiens solidified their spot at the top of the table, with the undisputed best attack, and an impressive average of four goals per match. An ideal start to the season domestically, on the eve of the start of another European chapter, which will kick-start with a star-studded encounter, on Tuesday evening, against Juventus…