Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) launched their post-Kylian Mbappé era with a 4-1 victory over Le Havre in the French Ligue 1 opener on Friday, August 16, 2024. The match, played at Le Havre’s Stade Océane, saw PSG secure a comfortable win, though the scoreline belied a more challenging performance.
PSG, who have dominated French soccer with 10 league titles in the last 12 seasons, are in a rebuilding phase following Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid. The club fielded one of the youngest squads in the league, showcasing their commitment to nurturing new talent.
Key moments of the match:
1. Lee Kang-in, the 23-year-old South Korean forward, opened the scoring for PSG in the third minute.
2. Gautier Lloris, brother of France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, equalized for Le Havre in the 48th minute.
3. Ousmane Dembélé broke the deadlock with a header in the 85th minute.
4. Bradley Barcola, 21, added a third goal a minute later.
5. Randal Kolo Muani sealed the victory with a penalty in the final minute.
The match highlighted PSG’s reliance on young talent, with 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye starting on the left wing and 19-year-old João Neves providing two assists. This youthful approach is part of PSG’s strategy to fill the void left by Mbappé’s departure.
Despite the convincing scoreline, PSG faced challenges throughout the match. Le Havre’s equalizer and a disallowed goal due to VAR review in the 53rd minute put pressure on the Parisian side. However, PSG’s late surge in the final five minutes secured the win.
This victory marks a positive start for PSG in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season, as they aim to maintain their dominance in French football without their former talisman, Kylian Mbappé.
The performance of their young players will be crucial as the season progresses, with the club betting on this new generation to take on more responsibility and continue their successful run in the league.
