The capital club was patient before cementing its domination in the second period on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi.
First successful European test for Luis Enrique’s PSG. In a barometer match for this brand new team, its twelve summer recruits and its new coach, Paris dominated Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes (2-0), Tuesday September 19, for its first match of the 2023-2024 Champions League .
After having deprived the German club of the ball for a long time, the Parisians found the solution in the second half thanks to a goal from the inevitable Kylian Mbappé on a penalty (49th). Achraf Hakimi did not take long to follow suit, with a subtle sequence in the area (58th). This success, combined with the draw between AC Milan and Newcastle (0-0), allows the Parisians to take the lead in Group F from the first day.
Manhandled since the start of the season in the league (two wins, two draws, one defeat), the Parisians wanted to reassure themselves for their first European game of the season, especially as their “group of death” promised a rapid increase in intensity .
Luis Enrique’s men lived up to expectations against a Borussia Dortmund team which lost its luster in the off-season. By applying the precepts of the Spanish coach who sanctifies possession of the ball, the capital’s players asphyxiated the Yellow and Black in the first period, without however trying much of their luck against the goal.
A Mbappé-Kolo Muani-Dembélé trio to perfect
While Randal Kolo Muani celebrated his first start in the Parisian jersey at the forefront alongside Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, the new attacking trio had difficulty combining, sometimes frustrating the public at the Parc des Princes, and these are finally Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi who were the first to stand out with attempted strikes. The lack of automatisms visible since the start of the season was again felt on Tuesday evening, and we had to wait until the locker room returned for the meeting to get carried away.
Served by Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé tried his luck in the German area, a strike blocked by the hand of Niklas Süle. The captain took charge of shooting and scoring the resulting penalty, earning a new acclaim from the Parisian public, who seemed to have forgotten the tumults of the summer. Faced with a Dortmund team forced to reveal themselves more, the Rouge et Bleu took advantage of more space to double the lead ten minutes later thanks to Achraf Hakimi after a combination with Vitinha and a hook which sent Mats Hummels sliding to on the adjacent ring road.
The BVB players rebelled somewhat and were more playful after the hour mark, but the Parisian defense only allowed them one clear opportunity, a shot on the post by Bynoe-Gittens. Enough to give the sensation of a rather accomplished match and offer a beautiful communion at the bottom of the Auteuil stand, between the players and the Ultras Paris Collective, observed from a distance and with satisfaction by Luis Enrique. But even happy with the victory, the supporters did not fail to remind them of their next objective: to bring down the Marseille rival on Sunday at the Parc des Princes.