Paris Saint-Germain’s Portuguese midfielder #17 Vitinha (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Nantes.
Paris Saint-Germain began its Ligue 1 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Nantes on Sunday. The defending champions looked unconvincing, showing the same lack of creativity seen in the UEFA Super Cup loss to Tottenham midweek.
Vitinha’s deflected strike in the second half proved decisive, giving coach Luis Enrique a winning league start.
Vitinha’s Goal Makes the Difference
The breakthrough came in the 67th minute. Portugal midfielder Vitinha collected the ball 20 meters out. His shot struck defender Chidozie Awaziem, who tried ducking but deflected the ball instead. The touch wrong-footed goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, leaving Nantes stunned.
That moment was enough to seal all three points for PSG, despite an uninspiring display overall.
Donnarumma’s Absence Raises Questions
PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was again missing from the squad. The Italian international is reportedly unsettled after PSG signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille. Transfer rumors continue to link Donnarumma with a possible move to Manchester City.
Chevalier, meanwhile, started between the posts but faced little danger during the encounter.
Lack of Spark in the First Half
The opening 45 minutes offered little excitement. Both teams struggled to create clear chances. Nantes played cautiously, while PSG lacked rhythm and urgency. Neither goalkeeper had much to do until Vitinha’s fortunate strike after the break.
Nantes coach Luis Castro may regret his initial decision to leave striker Matthis Abline on the bench. The side looked sharper once Abline entered after the hour mark. His future at the club, however, remains uncertain.
Other Ligue 1 Results Round-Up
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, several teams also kicked off their campaigns with tight victories.
- Angers 1-0 Paris FC: Esteban Lepaul scored early for Angers, who held on despite losing Louis Mouton to a red card in the 57th minute.
- Auxerre 1-0 Lorient: Lassine Sinayoko netted just after halftime to give Auxerre a winning start against newly promoted Lorient.
- Metz 0-1 Strasbourg: Strasbourg snatched a late win through new signing Joaquin Panichelli. Metz handed a debut to 16-year-old striker Brian Madjo but failed to find the net.
A Win, but Questions Remain for PSG
PSG secured the points but looked far from convincing. Luis Enrique will be concerned about the lack of ideas in attack. With the Champions League campaign ahead, improvement is needed.
For now, Vitinha’s lucky strike ensures PSG begins its Ligue 1 title defense on a positive note.
