Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their post-Kylian Mbappé era with a 4-1 victory over Le Havre in their Ligue 1 opener. Despite the comfortable scoreline, PSG's performance was not as smooth, with three goals coming in the final five minutes of the match.
The Parisian club, known for their dominance in French soccer with 10 league titles in the last 12 seasons, is currently in a rebuilding phase following Mbappé's departure to Real Madrid. With one of the youngest squads in the league this season, PSG is placing their faith in a new generation to step up in Mbappé's absence.
PSG's head coach, Luis Enrique, acknowledged the challenges faced during the match, stating, 'It wasn't easy at all. Maybe we started too calmly. We scored a goal very quickly and that relaxed us a bit too much.'
The match saw 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye starting on the left wing for PSG, and the team took an early lead through a goal from 23-year-old Lee Kang-in. However, PSG suffered a setback when Gonçalo Ramos was forced off due to injury in the 20th minute, with Randal Kolo Muani coming on as his replacement.
Kolo Muani almost made an immediate impact by hitting the crossbar, but Le Havre managed to equalize through Gautier Lloris in the 48th minute. A potential lead for the hosts was denied by a video review after Josué Casimir found the net five minutes later.
PSG intensified their pressure as the game progressed, and it wasn't until the 85th minute that Ousmane Dembélé's header put them back in front. Bradley Barcola added a third goal a minute later, and Kolo Muani sealed the victory with a penalty in the final minute of the match. Another young talent, João Neves, contributed with two assists during the game.
Paris Saint-Germain's victory over Le Havre marks a positive start to their season as they navigate the challenges of a transitional period post-Mbappé. The team's reliance on their emerging talents was evident in their performance, showcasing the potential of their young squad to compete at the highest level in French football.
