Winners in Lille, Les Parisiens put on a show once again!

Paris Saint-Germain fans didn't have to wait long to get excited about a first big clash of the 2024-25 season. Luis Enrique's team, who were top of the league table after two matches, faced a credible contender away from home. This challenging match saw the Spanish coach field a very impressive starting eleven, as usual. Paris lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the attacking trio of Dembélé, Asensio and Barcola up front. Summer signings João Neves and Willian Pacho were in the starting line-up. The only change from the team that faced Montpellier (6-0) was Lucas Beraldo, who was brought into the starting eleven.

The start of the match quickly revealed the intentions of the two top teams in this championship. Paris Saint-Germain's irresistible attack, which had been dominant since the opening match, faced a side that had yet to concede a goal in Ligue 1. True to their identity, Les Rouge et Bleu controlled possession and created openings. On the other side, Lille provided tough opposition, covering the field well and showing a desire to strike quickly on the counter.

This led to a first half that was intense, lively and closely contested. The duel was highlighted by the explosive bursts from both side's key players. Lille responded to Ousmane Dembélé (9') and Bradley Barcola's (25') lightning-fast runs with Edon Zhegrova's tricky dribbles with the ball. In goal, Gigio Donnarumma was alert and even had a bit of luck on his side when Diakité's shot hit the post (13'). After several promising chances for both teams, it was PSG who struck first. Following a devastating move by Ousmane Dembélé, Alexsandro conceded a penalty, which Vitinha calmly converted with the composure of a seasoned pro (1-0, 33').

A brilliant source of inspiration, followed by a second blow: how could we not mention the exceptional form of Bradley Barcola? Insatiable, tireless and unstoppable, the French international silenced the northern crowd just three minutes later by effortlessly finishing off a textbook move with a pass from Marco Asensio (2-0, 36').

Always eager to put on a show, Les Parisiens also had to roll up their sleeves at the other end of the pitch. Bruno Genesio's men, spurred on by their home crowd, remained dangerous in the second half. While Bradley Barcola continued to cause shivers in Lille's defence (54'), the Northerners managed to stay in the game. Zhegrova reduced the deficit with a left-footed strike a quarter of an hour before the end, setting up a tense final 15 minutes (2-1, 78'). Until the very end, PSG had to dig deep and rely on their collective strength to hold on, not without scares, such as Tiago Santos' goal that was eventually disallowed (82').

Our Parisians succeeded. They even went a step further by adding to the score with a decisive header from Randal Kolo Muani (3-1, 90+2'). It was a successful tactical move by Luis Enrique, as Désiré Doué, who provided the assist, delivered his first perfect pass in his new colors. A job well done to complete an impressive performance.

At the end of a high-level encounter, Paris Saint-Germain made a strong statement with their third consecutive Ligue 1 victory. A nearly perfect start to the season. After an international break involving many of the squad members across the globe, our Rouge et Blue will return to the Parc des Princes on 14 September to face another team competing in the UEFA Champions League, Stade Brestois. Mission accomplished.