Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) kicked off their Ligue 1 title defense with a resounding 4-1 victory over Le Havre on Friday. Despite the departure of star forward Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, PSG showcased their depth and resilience in their first competitive match of the season.
South Korean winger Lee Kang-in opened the scoring for PSG within three minutes, but Le Havre equalized through Gautier Lloris in the second half. However, late goals from Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and a Randal Kolo Muani penalty sealed the victory for the reigning French champions.
PSG's substitutes played a pivotal role in the win, with Dembele, Barcola, and Kolo Muani all coming off the bench to make a significant impact. Joao Neves, who joined from Benfica for a hefty fee, also made his debut for PSG in the second half.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged areas for improvement. "We had highs and lows, but the substitutes did a lot of good for us," he said. "The final score disguises the fact that there are things to improve upon."
PSG's victory highlights their strength in depth, with several young players stepping up to fill the void left by Mbappe. Ibrahim Mbaye, Yoram Zague, and Warren Zaire-Emery all started for PSG, showcasing the club's commitment to developing young talent.
Le Havre, under new coach Didier Digard, showed promise but ultimately fell short against a more experienced and talented PSG side. They will be hoping to bounce back in their next match against Auxerre.
PSG's next challenge will be a home match against Montpellier on August 13th. They will be aiming to continue their winning ways and establish themselves as the early frontrunners in the Ligue 1 title race.
Tags: #PSG, #Ligue1, #KylianMbappe, #OusmaneDembele, #RandalKoloMuani
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