The match:
Tonight the Parc des Princes had a huge match to celebrate the start of the Champions League campaign and for such a gala event, it was Angel Di Maria who wore the heros costume!
It only took a few seconds for Idrissa Gana Gueuye to set the tone. And the attack-minded approach paid dividends inside the opening quarter-hour when Icardi played Bernat down the left and Di Maria beat Courtois with a clinical finish at the near post (1-0, 14')! Madrid fought back immediately, but Hazard's shot flashed wide of the post (16'). Bale saw his free-kick flirt with Navas' crossbar (32'). Before Di Maria added goal No.2 with a crisp left-footed drive from the edge of the area (2-0, 33')! Real Madrid's Welshman Bale then had the ball in the back of the net only to see it ruled out for hand ball (45+1'). Paris were deservedly in front at the break!
And the Fideo Show continued after the break! With a trademark chip, Di Maria went close to a hat-trick (60'), before setting up Sarabia who was within a whisker of landing the knockout punch (61')! Benzema almost got Real back into the game (76') with a goal ruled out for offside, before he headed across the face of goal (79'). Real Madrid didn't get a single shot on target in the match… and the last shot would be fired by the home side as Meunier netted on the counterattack (3-0, 90+1')! It was a classy, complete performance by the home side, perfectly ilustrated by Idrisa Gueye who was everywhere in midfield. The win fired Paris straight to the top of the Group A standings.
A man in the match: Angel Di Maria
In his 100th European match (his 31st with Paris), Di Maria was in the mood to celebrate. In the right place at the right time for the opener (14'), the Argentina international then netted an absolute gem to net his 20th goal in the competition and 12th with Paris. With two goals and three assists in Paris' last eight UEFA Champions League goals, El Fideo also moved up to eighth in the club's all-time scoring charts ahead of Rai (74 in all competitions). Bravo Fideo.
The word: Armada
Yes, the Paris attack was without Mbappé, Ney and Cavani, but there was no lack of firepower up front! Having finished with the best attack in the last two group stages of the UEFA Champions League (25 goals in 2017-18, and 17 goals in 2018-19), Paris Saint-Germain began in style once again this year!
Coming up:
Les Rouge et Bleu attentions now turn to Ligue 1 and another big test with Sunday's trip to Lyon (21:00, Week 6). It promises to be another very attacking encounter between the two best attacks in land (12 goals for OL, 11 for Paris). Bring it on!