‘MCN’ combine to continue perfect start for PSG
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe again made a decisive contribution as Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar front three combined for the goals in a 3-1 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
On his first start since winning the World Cup with France, Mbappe volleyed in PSG’s crucial second goal just after the break at the Parc des Princes, and he then set up Neymar for the strike that clinched the points.
Before that, Edinson Cavani had marked his first appearance of the season with an early opener, only for Thomas Mangani’s penalty to bring Angers back level midway through the first half.
This was a third win in as many games for PSG to start their defence of the French title, and seeing all three members of his ‘MCN’ attack find the net will have greatly pleased new coach Thomas Tuchel.
“It was a deserved victory but again it was difficult,” said Tuchel.
“We are not fresh at the moment because we have been working so hard at training during the week.”
It was the first time in six months that Mbappe, Cavani and Neymar had all played together, with the latter having missed the end of last season due to injury.
Tuchel also selected Angel Di Maria in his starting line-up, with that quartet alone costing the capital side over €500 million (RM2.4 billion) in transfer fees in the last five years.
A brilliant Thiago Silva interception on halfway led to Neymar delivering a low cross for Cavani to turn in a 12th-minute opener, and the Uruguayan headed off the post from another Neymar cross soon after.
However, Angers got the chance to equalise when Kehrer brought down Flavien Tait in the box, a challenge that led to the defender being booked and the visitors winning a penalty.
Mangani slotted the spot-kick past Alphonse Areola, another French World Cup winner returning to the side, in his case at the expense of Gianluigi Buffon.
Not happy with his team’s display, Tuchel took off Kehrer at the interval, sending on youngster Stanley N’Soki and reverting to a back four.
The alterations paid off as Mbappe restored the lead within six minutes of the restart, meeting Di Maria’s cross from the left with a superb volley into the far corner.
Mbappe was in the mood to thrill the Parc des Princes crowd, and he set up the third goal on 65 minutes, his cutback being turned in by Neymar for the Brazilian’s third of the season, as many as Mbappe.
Dijon are the only other team with three wins from three, after their stunning 4-0 success at Nice.
Jules Keita scored twice after Nayef Aguerd and Oussama Haddadi had netted for Dijon on a miserable night for Nice, who are yet to win under Patrick Vieira.
After perfect starts to the season, newly-promoted duo Nimes and Reims lost respectively at Toulouse (1-0) and Amiens (4-1). Lyon beat Strasbourg 2-0 on Friday with Martin Terrier and Bertrand Traore scoring.