Paris Saint-Germain swiftly reclaimed their position at the top of Ligue 1, even if temporarily, following a commanding 3-0 home win against Montpellier on Friday night. The reigning French champions delivered a poised performance at Parc des Princes, securing a crucial three points and edging ahead of early leaders OGC Nice, who have the opportunity to regain the top spot should they triumph over Rennes on Sunday.
In the early moments of the match, Montpellier threatened to seize an unexpected lead, creating an air of tension. However, PSG swiftly regained their composure, and within ten minutes, Lee Kang-in broke the deadlock. The South Korean midfielder, skillfully set up by Kylian Mbappe, unleashed a remarkable strike into the top corner. As the first half progressed, PSG’s dominance grew evident, with Ousmane Dembele forcing a spectacular save and Mbappe himself narrowly missing with a powerful volley.
Just before the hour mark, the hosts doubled their lead. Warren Zaire-Emery orchestrated a brilliant exchange with Dembele and confidently slotted the ball home from inside the box. Subsequently, substitute Vitinha extended the lead to 3-0, capitalizing on Hakimi’s precise low cross. Dembele continued to dazzle the home supporters with his flair, including a delightful flick that set up Fabian Ruiz, whose strike was ultimately denied.
This victory serves as an early statement of intent to their domestic rivals. PSG’s manager, Luis Enrique, will be delighted with his team’s slick performance as they approach a crucial week, with a UEFA Champions League clash against AC Milan awaiting them on Tuesday.
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