Ligue 1 roundup: Neymar and Messi shine in PSG's dominant win, Monaco beat Strasbourg
Strasbourg - Monaco 1-2
In pursuit of their first victory on the opening day of a Ligue 1 campaign at the fourth attempt of asking, the visitors appreciated the advantage of the opening attacking exchanges, as a lively Jean Lucas looked like the most likely of the Monégasques’ attacking protagonists to break the deadlock.
On a similar assignment to their visitors in aspects of registering a first victory, albeit being at home, on the opening day of a new season for the first-time since 2017, Strasbourg had to be patient in front of goal, as Dimitri Liénard’s strike stung the palms of Alexander Nübel in the 21st minute. In a closely-contested affair between two sides heavily involved in last season’s Ligue 1 European qualification battle, Monaco were denied the opening goal of the game in the 37th minute when Gelson Martins’ strike was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Nonetheless, the visitors’ previously interrupted celebrations were promptly recommenced a minute before HT, when Krépin Diatta unleashed a magnificent long-range volley into the top corner.
Looking to improve upon their record of only three victories from 26 season openers, Ludovic Ajorque was left incensed after the beginning of the second-half, when François Letexier nonchalantly failed to award a penalty to Les Coureurs. To make matters worse for Strasbourg, Sofiane Diop doubled the visitors’ advantage only five minutes later, slotting into an empty net after a frustrated Sels could only push the ball into the path of the oncoming Monaco midfielder. With victory looking unlikely, Habib Diallo gave the hosts a chance of an unlikely comeback, clinically dispatching Thomas Delaine’s pin-point cross to set up an intriguing final 25 minutes.
After surviving the drama of VAR intervening to dramatically rule out Diallo’s 92nd-minute equaliser due to an offside in the build-up, Monaco will take the momentum of victory into the second-leg of their UEFA Champions League qualification encounter against PSV on Tuesday. Meanwhile, after being denied a late draw, Strasbourg finally experienced the unfamiliarity of defeat, after a first home loss in 2022.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Krepin Diatta (Monaco)
Clermont - PSG 0-5
Anything other than an 11th title for PSG would be deemed a failure in Christophe Galtier’s first season in charge of the French champions, and he headed into his opening league match without last season’s injured top scorer Kylian Mbappé. However, it was his replacement Pablo Sarabia that had a key role in their opening goal in the ninth minute. The Spaniard’s cross was flicked on by Lionel Messi into the path of Neymar, who drilled a shot low and hard past Mory Diaw to break the deadlock.
That lead was doubled at the end of a devastating counter-attack from the Parisiens when Achraf Hakimi blasted in an emphatic finish at the far post following some brilliant link-up play involving Messi and Neymar. PSG’s no.10 was the provider again when his inswinging free-kick was powered home by Marquinhos, as it became a case of damage limitation for Clermont before the HT break.
Komnen Andrić was one of six debutants for the hosts, and he almost announced his arrival in style after the interval. The Serbian was allowed to turn on the edge of the box, only to fire his subsequent shot a whisker wide of the target. However, that was a rare moment of promise in a match where PSG cruised to victory, with Messi skying a shot over the bar from deep inside the box.
Nuno Mendes should have added a fourth goal for PSG, but his header from Hakimi's cross was comfortably saved by Diaw - the wide man's final act before being replaced by Hugo Ekitiké. A fourth did come courtesy of Messi, and the Argentine got off the mark for the season following a lovely one-two with Neymar ahead of a straightforward close-range finish. What followed though was a moment of Messi magic, as the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner latched onto a Leandro Paredes pass and beat Diaw with an audacious bicycle kick, rounding off the scoring.
It was the perfect start for Galtier’s side, who welcome Montpelier to the Parc des Princes next Saturday, while Clermont will be targeting their first points of the season when they travel to Reims on August 14.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)