George Boxall, reporting from the Parc des Princes, Paris
Ligue 1 McDonald’s Gameweek 2 23/08/2024
PSG 6-0 Montpellier – THE MATCH
A first game at home in the 2024-2025 season for Paris Saint-Germain in the post-Mbappé era, and with a relatively serene atmosphere surrounding the Parc des Princes, Les Parisiens blew apart a clearly struggling Montpellier side in spectacular fashion. Luis Enrique’s side certainly made it two out of two wins in style…
Les Parisiens got off to the perfect start when Joao Neves released Bradley Barcola down the left side, and the winger used his pace to charge into the box and provide an inch-perfect finish which rebounded off the post and into the back of the net. PSG’s new recruit Neves would grab his third assist in two games, and his header only minutes later flashed just wide of Lecomte’s right post. Barcola provided another dangerous run down the right side, as La Paillade’s combined double-down on the France U21 international was clearly not going to plan.
As the first half wore on, it turned into an attack vs defence scenario akin to a training drill – PSG holding onto the ball in typical Enrique fashion, but with most of their attacking chances coming down the left side with some great inter-play between Vitinha, Neves, and Barcola. It was a lovely constructed move which gave Paris the second goal through Marco Asensio, as Barcola played a wonderfully-driven ball to Neves on the edge of the box who cushioned a disguised ball for Asensio to finish from close range.
If Les Parisiens looked like they were running away with the result, Téji Savanier would offer a reminder of his ability from dead-ball situations with a dangerous ball into Nordin and Donnarumma had to be quick on his line to parry away the danger. With PSG back on the attack, Marquinhos would blast a header just over the bar. Whabi Khazri would have the best chance for Montpellier in the first half as Nordin fed a superb cross into the Tunisian international.
Following the break, a similar pattern of play would ensue to the first half, as Ousmane Dembélé was let loose down the right side and provided a straightforward square ball for Bradley Barcola to grab his second of the evening. Les Parisiens would add a fourth only minutes later, this time Nuno Mendes provided an inch-perfect cross for Achraf Hakimi to volley first time.
By the hour-mark, Luis Enrique’s side were well and truly running away with it: this time Dembélé fed Warren Zaïre-Emery into the box and the 18-year-old gleefully nutmegged Kouyaté before slotting home past Benjamin Lecomte for PSG’s fifth. After a relative lull, it wouldn’t take much longer for PSG to get a sixth goal: this time Lee Kang-In fired an unstoppable strike past Lecomte, who stood simply astounded on his goal.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN PLAYER RATINGS
Giunluigi Donnarumma, 7
Achraf Hakimi, 7
Marquinhos, 6
Willian Pacho, 6
Nuno Mendes, 6
Warren Zaïre-Emery, 7
João Neves, 9 – A sensational Parc des Princes debut for the 19-year-old who has now grabbed four assists in 68 minutes played with PSG against Le Havre and Montpellier. He was the beating heart of Les Parisiens’ midfield, forming a productive partnership with fellow countryman Vitinha and Warren Zaïre-Emery. His first assist released Bradley Barcola down the left for PSG’s opener, before the pick of the bunch with his second: a lovely cushioned effort which laid the ball on a plate for Marco Asensio to finish.
Vitinha, 7 – He was PSG’s midfield leader last season, but along with his compatriote Joao Neves the Portuguese duo are sowing the seeds of what could be a fruitful partnership in midfield in tandem with Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Ousmane Dembélé, 6
Marco Asensio, 7
Bradley Barcola, 8 – One of his best performances in a Rouge & Bleu shirt and a confidently dispatched brace to show for it. The Frenchman was a constant menace down the left side, with a frightening pace akin to a certain winger who recently departed the club for Real Madrid.
SELECTED MONTPELLIER PLAYER RATINGS
Boubakar Kouyaté, 3
Joris Chotard, 3
Téji Savanier, 4
GFFN | George Boxall
