Lionel Messi scored two goals, including a sensational bicycle-kick, as Paris Saint-Germain began their Ligue 1 title defence with an emphatic 5-0 win at Clermont.
Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos were also on target at the Stade Gabriel Montpied as PSG made an impressive start under their new coach, Christophe Galthier, despite the absence of Kylian Mbappé through injury. It took only nine minutes for PSG to go ahead, Messi brilliantly flicking the ball on for Neymar to finish.
Hakimi doubled the visitors’ lead midway through the first half from a lightning counter-attack, before Marquinhos headed Neymar’s free-kick into the net to make it 3-0 at half-time. Neymar added a second assist for Messi’s first goal with 10 minutes left, and the Argentina forward capped an excellent display late on, controlling a Leandro Paredes pass on his chest and firing acrobatically home.
Earlier, Monaco won 2-1 at Strasbourg after the home side saw a last-gasp equaliser ruled out by VAR. Monaco went 2-0 up through goals from Krepin Diatta and Sofiane Diop before Habib Diallo pulled one back in the 65th minute. Diallo thought he had another in stoppage time when he headed home but teammate Alexander Djiku was found to be offside in the buildup.
In the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen, but the result was marred by a foot injury suffered by their new attacking recruit, Karim Adeyemi.
A 10th-minute goal from the Dortmund captain, Marco Reus, proved enough for the hosts in coach Edin Terzic’s first game in permanent charge. Adeyemi thought he had scored when he turned Youssoufa Moukoko’s cut back towards goal. Lukas Hradecky reacted to stop the ball crossing the line, but Reus was on hand to prod home.
Adeyemi was forced off in the 23rd minute and Leverkusen had opportunities to equalise, with Patrik Schick forcing Gregor Köbel into two big saves. Their hopes of getting a point faded when their goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, was sent off in stoppage time for handling the ball outside the area.
“We did not start really well, lost possession a few times but recovered well. They were better after the break but we defended our lead well,” said Terzic, the former interim coach who has now returned to replace Marco Rose. “[Karim[ tried to play on but it was not possible. We have to wait until tomorrow [for] a clear diagnosis.”
Union Berlin eased past local rivals Hertha 3-1 to continue their recent domination of the Berlin derby. Jordan Siebatcheu scored on his Bundesliga debut with a glancing header before Sheraldo Becker punished passive defending to make it two soon after half time. Robin Knoche’s header made it three before Dodi Lukebakio pulled back a late consolation.
Freiburg began with a 4-0 rout of Augsburg as Michael Gregoritsch returned to haunt his former club. Vincenzo Grifo’s long-range free kick made it two, with Matthias Ginter and Ritsu Doan also on target. Werder Bremen had to settle for a point on their top-flight return after Josuha Guilavogui earned a late equaliser for Wolfsburg.
Mönchengladbach fought back to beat 10-man Hoffenheim, who took the lead through Robert Skov despite Stefan Posch’s 19th-minute dismissal for two yellow cards. Ramy Bensebaini equalised before half-time, before goals from Marcus Thuram and Nico Elvedi secured victory for the hosts. Elsewhere, Karim Onisiwo scored twice as Mainz earned a 2-1 victory at Bochum.
