Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) launched their Ligue 1 title defense with a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Le Havre at the Stade Océane on August 16, 2024. This match marked PSG’s first game in the post-Kylian Mbappé era, following his high-profile move to Real Madrid.The match began promisingly for PSG, with Lee Kang-In finding the net in the 3rd minute. However, Le Havre equalized through Gautier Lloris in the 48th minute, exposing some of PSG’s defensive vulnerabilities. The game remained tightly contested until the final minutes when PSG’s substitutes made a decisive impact.Ousmane Dembélé broke the deadlock with a header in the 85th minute, followed swiftly by Bradley Barcola’s goal in the 86th minute. Randal Kolo Muani then sealed the victory with a penalty in the 90th minute. This late flurry of goals inflated the scoreline, masking what had been a closely fought contest for much of the match.PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, acknowledged the team’s mixed performance, stating, ‘We had ups and downs. The players who came in from the bench did a lot of good for us. The result is a tree that hides the forest because there are things to improve’. Enrique’s strategy of integrating young talent was evident, with 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye making his debut as the youngest starter in PSG’s history.While the victory provides a positive start to PSG’s campaign, it also highlighted areas for improvement as the team adapts to life without Mbappé. The match demonstrated both the potential of PSG’s new generation and the challenges they face in maintaining the club’s dominance in French football.
Key points
- PSG won their Ligue 1 opener 4-1 against Le Havre, despite initial struggles.
- The match marked PSG’s first game without Kylian Mbappé, who has moved to Real Madrid.
- Late goals from substitutes Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola secured the victory for PSG.
- Coach Luis Enrique acknowledged areas for improvement despite the win.
- 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye made his debut, becoming the youngest starter in PSG’s history.
Contradictions👾There are minor discrepancies in the reported goal times across sources, with some variation in the exact minute of scoring.
👾Some sources emphasize PSG’s dominance, while others highlight their struggles throughout the match.
