Luis Enrique is not satisfied with the three titles won or with the semi-finals of the Champions League in his second season at PSG, without Kylian Mbappé , but with a team committed to the pressure that their coach proposes, intense, suffocating and committed, with the valuable reinforcement of Joao Neves , the fast-paced Bradley Barcola , the goal of Marco Asensio and a full house of two wins.
With Sunday’s clash in Marseille still to come, the champions are already top of Ligue 1, on the rise and decisively on Friday against Montpellier (6-0), to whom they made it clear from the start that they had no chance of taking the Parc des Princes: in just three minutes and 12 seconds, PSG took the lead. A declaration of intent. A lesson learned. And an example of the team’s progress, which limits its concessions .
Bradley Barcola’s run , an unstoppable whirlwind on the left wing , was unreachable for his pursuers. Unstoppable. As was his finish, with the outside of his right foot, including a shot off the opposite post, when he entered the area, but also the one-two with which Joao Neves launched him at full speed in midfield.
Recital by Joao Neves
In his first start, the 19-year-old Benfica centre-half, who has already won nine international caps, cost Paris Saint Germain 60 million euros this summer. His reading of the game, his pressing, his ease of moving the ball and his dazzling ability to assist in depth. In two games, four of his passes were decisive for his team’s goal. Luis Enrique already included him from the start. He knows his formidable dimension .
If the pass that overwhelmed Montpellier’s entire formation in the 1-0 was a demonstration, the 2-0 was even more so. It was directed by Barcola, once again beyond his markers’ reach. His combination on the edge of the area with Joao Neves was made even better by the Portuguese international, with a subtle, perfect touch for Marco Asensio’s first-time finish, the scorer in the 23rd minute against all odds . There was none.
Paris Saint-Germain also confirmed that they have their own goal well covered. The saviour on so many occasions last season, Donnarumma is an undoubted asset for Luis Enrique’s team. His prodigious save from an opponent’s header after half an hour, with the score already 2-0 in their favour, confirmed his great value in such an attacking team.
The second half confirmed the victory. Within a quarter of an hour. First, through Barcola, who completed his ‘double’ with the 3-0 in the 53rd minute; then, with a volley from Hakimi to make it 4-0, in the 58th, and finally with a goal from Zaire Emery, with the 5-0 in the 60th, to round off much more than the second victory, completed by the 6-0 of Kang In with a precise left-footed shot from outside the area. A show of strength. Now without Mbappé .
source:marca.com
