Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) maintained their perfect start to the Ligue 1 season with a 3-1 victory over Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The reigning champions had to dig deep to secure all three points against a determined Lille side, who were unfortunate not to come away with at least a point. The win extended PSG’s remarkable unbeaten away streak in Ligue 1 to 26 matches, a testament to their dominance on the road.
PSG’s Early Dominance
PSG wasted no time in asserting their control over the match, with Ousmane Dembélé testing Lille’s goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier, twice in the opening minutes. Lille, however, were not without their chances. Edon Zhegrova’s cutback found Bafodé Diakité, whose shot hit the post, nearly giving the hosts an early lead. This close call was a wake-up call for PSG, who quickly responded.
The breakthrough for PSG came in the 33rd minute when Alexsandro’s reckless challenge on Dembélé inside the box resulted in a penalty. Vitinha stepped up and converted the spot-kick with composure, putting the visitors ahead. Just three minutes later, PSG doubled their lead through a swift counterattack. Marco Asensio delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Bradley Barcola, who curled his shot into the net, leaving Lille with a mountain to climb.
Lille’s Resurgence and Late Drama
Despite going two goals down, Lille came out stronger in the second half, pushing PSG back and creating several chances. The introduction of Jonathan David and former PSG player Thomas Meunier provided Lille with the impetus they needed to claw their way back into the match. Lille eventually found the back of the net in the 78th minute when Zhegrova drilled a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Lille’s confidence grew, and they thought they had equalized moments later when Tiago Santos scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside. This disallowed goal was a turning point, as PSG tightened their defense and looked to close out the game. In stoppage time, PSG added a third goal to seal the victory. Randal Kolo Muani headed in a cross from Désiré Doué, who had won back possession, ensuring that PSG left Lille with all three points.
PSG’s Perfect Start to the Season
With this victory, PSG have now won their first three league games of the season, a feat they have achieved six times in the past ten seasons. The Parisians have shown resilience and tactical discipline under Luis Enrique, and their ability to grind out results even when not at their best is a hallmark of a championship-winning team.
Luis Enrique praised his team’s performance after the match, stating, “We knew this would be a tough game, but the players showed great character and determination to secure the win. Lille is a strong team, especially at home, so to come here and take all three points is very satisfying.”
Ligue 1 Weekend Round-Up
The third matchday of the Ligue 1 season was filled with excitement, drama, and goals. Here’s a round-up of the weekend’s other results:
Olympique Lyon vs Strasbourg (4-3)
Olympique Lyon edged out Strasbourg in a thrilling 4-3 victory at home. Despite falling behind early to a goal from Nanasi, Lyon responded with a strong second-half performance. Goals from Corentin Tolisso, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and a brace from Gift Orban secured the win for Lyon, although Strasbourg made it a nervy finish with goals from Santos and Emegha.
Brest vs Saint Etienne (4-0)
Brest delivered a dominant performance against Saint Etienne, winning 4-0 at home. Brest opened the scoring through a Camara goal in the 10th minute, and Del Castillo doubled the lead from the penalty spot before halftime. Ajorque and Lala added to Saint Etienne’s misery with goals in the second half, sealing an emphatic victory.
Montpellier vs Nantes (1-3)
Montpellier suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Nantes. Despite taking the lead through Adams in the 30th minute, Montpellier couldn’t hold on as Nantes responded with goals from Abline, Simon, and Mohamed. The result leaves Montpellier searching for their first win of the season.
Toulouse vs Olympique Marseille (1-3)
Olympique Marseille continued their strong start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Toulouse. Mason Greenwood was the star of the show, scoring twice in the first half to give Marseille a comfortable lead. An own goal from Cresswell extended Marseille’s advantage before Babicka scored a late consolation for Toulouse.
Monaco vs Lens (1-1)
Monaco were held to a 1-1 draw by Lens in a closely contested match. After a goalless first half, Zakaria put Monaco ahead in the 84th minute, but Lens equalized in stoppage time through a Frankowski penalty. The draw sees Monaco drop points for the first time this season.
Reims vs Rennes (2-1)
Reims secured a 2-1 victory over Rennes in a tightly fought contest. Ito opened the scoring for Reims before Ostigard equalized for Rennes. However, Diakite’s goal early in the second half proved to be the winner, giving Reims their second win of the season.
Le Havre vs Auxerre (3-1)
Le Havre claimed a 3-1 win over Auxerre in a game marked by goals and drama. An own goal from Owusu gave Le Havre the lead, which Ndiaye and Toure extended in the second half. Perrin’s goal for Auxerre was merely a consolation as Le Havre celebrated a well-earned victory.
Angers vs Nice (1-4)
Nice produced an impressive performance to defeat Angers 4-1 away from home. Early goals from Ndayishimiye and Boudaoui set the tone for Nice, with Guessand adding two more in the second half. Abdelli scored a penalty for Angers, but it was too little, too late to affect the outcome.
Conclusion
Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 victory over Lille was a testament to their resilience and quality as they continue to dominate Ligue 1. Despite Lille’s valiant efforts, the reigning champions showed why they are the team to beat, extending their unbeaten away streak to 26 matches. As the Ligue 1 season progresses, PSG’s perfect start has set the tone for what promises to be another exciting campaign. Meanwhile, the weekend’s other matches provided plenty of entertainment, with goals and drama across the board, showcasing the competitive nature of French football.
