The year starts at full throttle for Paris

For their first match of 2020, Paris Saint-Germain travelled to Bondoufle, in order to take on ESA de Linas Monthlery in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France. And Thomas Tuchel picked a previously unseen starting eleven to go out and secure the victory in this Île de France derby. 

In an expected formation, Les Rouge et Bleu tried to get the ball down and play from the very get-go, but the home side also went for the game, combining agression and speed in their counter attacks. With successive attempts from Pablo Sarabia (9') and Adil Aouchiche (10'), Paris clearly demonstrated their desire to set the tempo. From Cavani's overhit lob (14') to Aouchiche's effort (from an offside position) that hit the post (17'), Thomas Tuchel's side could see that they were going to need to find a way past a tight and diligent defence.

Chances were aplenty in Les Linois' box, and their goalkeeper, Lutumba pulled off an excellent stop to push Thilo Kehrer's header onto the bar, before Tanguy Kouassi saw his effort blocked on the goal line (24'). Three minutes later, from a set-piece, Pablo Sarabia found Edinson Cavani who took his chance and saw his strike miraculously deflected by the home side (27'). It was, however, the Paris youth set-up that would provide Thomas Tuchel with the opening goal. Colin Dagba, who was particularly lively down the right wing, found Adil Aouchiche beautifully and the youngster mesmerised the defender with a sublime piece of skill and found the back of the net to secure his first professional goal (0-1, 31').

The final stages of the first half were particularly animated. Following a world-class save from Lutumba to stop a powerful Edinson Cavani header (37'), Linas-Monthlery won a penalty for a foul by Colin Dagba. And when Sergio Rico chose the right way and stopped Kanouté's strike from the penalty spot (40'), the chance was then for the Parisiens on the counter and Edinson Cavani got their second with a strike from the middle (0-2, 41').

After the break, the home side were full of good intentions and looked to break into the Paris box in order to regain some hope. Sergio Rico proved his importance once again when he denied Kanouté's effort (48'). At the other end of the pitch, Lutumba also continued to impress, with a smart stop from Edinson Cavani's half-volley (54'). The lines were stretched as fatigue set in for the home side and the visitors took their chances in the final half an hour in order to comfortably put this game against the team from the 6th division to bed.

Edinson Cavani was the first to be rewarded for his numerous chances, after some smart work from Julian Draxler (0-3, 61'), before he turned his hand to provider for Pablo Sarabia, who easily finished after a one-two between the two men (0-4, 64'). The Spaniard got his second five minutes later, with a left-footed effort that ensured the evening was over for Les Essonniens (0-5, 69'). Substitute, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting missed a huge chance (81') before adding his own name to the scoresheet with just three minutes of normal time to play (0-6, 87').

Paris secured their first win after the winter break in the best possible way. The ideal way to kick-off 2020 ahead of the numerous challenges that await Paris, including the visit of Saint-Étienne to the Parc des Princes in three days time in the Coupe de la Ligue.