Ligue 1: PSG launches its season with an offensive festival in Le Havre

After a summer filled with the Euro, the Copa America and even the Olympic Games, Ligue 1 resumed its rights this Friday evening. On DAZNwho inherited the championship rights on French soil after a long saga that continues to be talked about, PSG traveled to the Stade Océane to face Le Havre. A meeting between two teams with different destinies last year. French champion for the twelfth consecutive time, the capital club will have to do without its best player, Kylian Mbappé, who left for Real Madrid. For its part, HAC, promoted last year, fought for its survival and hopes to have a much more conclusive season under the leadership of Didier Digard, its new coach. However, nothing happened for the senior club from the first minutes. Despite a revamped eleven with in particular the young Ibrahim Mbaye on the left flank of the attack (16 years old), Paris Saint-Germain started in the best possible way. Following a superb build-up, Kang-In Lee was found on the right side. In form, the South Korean curled in to score the first goal of the season in the elite (0-1, 3rd). Conscientious and serious at the start of the match, the visitors continued to put pressure on the disoriented Le Havre team. And even with Gonçalo Ramos’ injury-related exit, PSG were supreme and could have even doubled the lead if it hadn’t been for the crossbar found on the head of Randal Kolo Muani, the Portuguese striker’s replacement (22nd). However, as the last quarter of an hour approached, the Normans fought back. While Abdoulaye Touré’s disallowed goal (28th) for an offside by Josué Casimir was a first warning for PSG, Touré’s second strike, caught by Donnarumma, materialized the Le Havre revolt (39th). Thus, thanks also to two big saves from Arthur Desmas in added time (45+1st, 45+5th), Le Havre still had something to hope for after the break.

After the break, hope was definitely restored at the Stade Océane. Indeed, following a perfectly taken free kick by Christophe Opéri, Guatier Lloris deceived Donnarumma, completely betrayed by the marking and laborious defense of his defense on this action (1-1, 49th). Clearly in a strong moment, the Hacmen even thought they had taken the lead. After a big opportunity missed by Randal Kolo Muani on the other side, Josué Casimir stole the ball from a too tender Yoram Zague before succeeding in his one-on-one with Gianluigi Donnarumma. Problem, definitely in the referees’ sights for his avoidable fouls, Casimir was caught by the patrol after a handball that helped him to scrape the ball from Zague (54th). This disallowed goal allowed Luis Enrique to sound the alarm. On the pitch, his players also pulled themselves together, as evidenced by the missile sent onto Desmas’ bar by Lee Kang-In (62nd). From then on, the Spanish coach decided to change everything by bringing out the big guns. Exit Lee, Asensio and Zague. Dembélé, Marquinhos and Barcola in. That’s how a match can also change. And Le Havre can testify to this as they were dismantled by PSG’s substitutes, like Joao Neves, who came on at half-time and was already convincing in his debut. Close to securing a draw, the Normans were caught out five minutes from the end by a deadly header from Ousmane Dembélé on a cross from the Portuguese recruit (1-2, 85th). Reinvigorated by this saving goal, the Parisians put themselves even more in a safe place thanks to Bradley Barcola. Found on the left following a superb cross from Neves, the player trained at OL chained together a series of swaying dribbles before curling an unstoppable shot for Desmas (1-3, 87th). Totally disoriented, the Le Havre players drank the chalice to the dregs while Randal Kolo Muani scored his goal by converting a penalty offered by Gautier Lloris (1-4, 90th). Thus, sometimes in pain, PSG brilliantly escaped the Le Havre trap and therefore started this new season with a big win from the start (1-4). Luis Enrique’s men will have to do better next week with the reception of Montpellier. For its part, a valiant HAC will have to go and get points on the pitch of Saint-Etienne.