PSG begin post-Mbappé era with win to open Ligue 1 season

Paris St. Germain received their post-Kylian Mbappe A successful start on Friday with a 4-1 win over Le Havre in their Ligue 1 opener.

However, with PSG’s last three goals coming in the final five minutes, the scoreline was more comfortable than the performance suggested.

The Paris club have dominated French football with 10 league titles in the past 12 seasons, but are rebuilding after Mbappé left to join Real Madrid in the summer.

They have one of the youngest squads in the league this season and are betting that the new generation can take on more responsibility in Mbappé’s absence.

„It wasn’t easy,” PSG president Luis Enrique told reporters about the win. „Maybe we started too relaxed. We scored a goal very quickly and that calmed us down a bit.”

A goal from the 23-year-old South Korean forward gave them the lead three minutes after starting Friday’s match with 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbe on the left wing. Lee Kang-in.

PSG suffered a blow as Gonzalo Ramos was injured in a challenge Randall Kolo Mwani In the 20th minute.

„I’m not a doctor, but it looks like a serious injury. I don’t know how many weeks he will be out,” Luis Enrique said.

Kolo Mwani made an almost immediate impact, hitting the bar after 25 minutes, but when the second goal came it was at the other end.

Gautier LorisThe brother of France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo equalized after 48 minutes and only a video review stopped the hosts from taking the lead. Joshua Casimir Hit the net five minutes later.

PSG piled on the pressure as the match wore on but it wasn’t until the 85th minute. Ousmane Dembélé Again he led the audience to the front.

21 years old Bradley Barcola A third came a minute later and Kolo Mwani added a fourth from the penalty spot in the final minute of the match. Another youth, 19 years old João NevesTwo assists were requested.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.