Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their Ligue 1 title defense with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nantes on Sunday. The match, held at Nantes’ home ground, saw PSG take the lead in the second half, thanks to a deflected shot from Vitinha.
His strike, which took a crucial deflection off Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem, beat goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and proved to be the match-winner.
PSG’s win came despite a difficult start to the season. Coach Luis Enrique made several changes to his starting lineup, making seven alterations following their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the week.
This was PSG’s first competitive match since their Champions League win, and the team had only begun pre-season training in early August. With no prior friendly matches, it was clear that PSG still needed time to reach peak form.
In the opening half, PSG struggled to create clear chances, a testament to the disciplined defense of Nantes, managed by new Portuguese coach Luis Castro. However, the visitors grew into the match in the second half and eventually broke the deadlock with Vitinha’s deflected goal.
Speaking after the match, Luis Enrique expressed his satisfaction with the performance. “I am very happy because the first objective in these matches is the victory and I think we deserved the three points.
We were in control throughout, playing away from home,” he said. Enrique also acknowledged the team’s lack of preparation, noting, “They all need time, but we will look more comfortable with the ball once we have a few more games under our belts.”
Defender Illia Zabarnyi, who joined PSG from Bournemouth for a reported 66 million euros, made his debut in the match and played the full 90 minutes. Enrique praised Zabarnyi’s physical and technical attributes, stating, “He is comfortable on the ball and usually wins his duels without the ball. I think he played very well.”
Substitutes played a significant role in PSG’s victory. Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all contributed to the goal. Dembele’s quick thinking at a short corner led to a pass from Mendes to Vitinha, who made no mistake in scoring.
Despite several close calls, including Goncalo Ramos hitting the bar and an offside goal being ruled out, PSG held onto their slim lead. The victory marks a strong start to their campaign as they prepare for their next match against Angers on Friday.
In other Ligue 1 action, Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for Lille in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brest. Meanwhile, Monaco emerged as the early league leaders with a 3-1 win over Le Havre.
Nantes vs PSG was a game of resilience for the Parisians, who managed to secure a win despite not being at their best. With a long season ahead, PSG will aim to build on this victory as they look to defend their Ligue 1 title.
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