The new season therefore starts as the previous one ended: with Lille in front of PSG!
The French champion dominated the winner of the Cup this Sunday evening in Israel (1-0).
During a rhythmic meeting, the Mastiffs demonstrated more certainty in the face of Parisians still deprived of many executives.
For the first time since 2013, the Champions Trophy changes ownership!
But the extra-athletic, first. Because sometimes, unfortunately, football does not escape political considerations. The new right-back of PSG, the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi experienced it in Tel Aviv from his first touch of the ball. Conspired by some of the 29,000 Israeli spectators, the flagship recruit "pays" for the support shown to the Palestinian people after the resurgence of tensions between Israel and Palestine in the spring of 2021. The whistles decreased in intensity over the minutes but recalled that the sport remains a way for some to express their stupidity.
It also means that Hakimi has hit a huge number of balls in his right lane.
PSG have posed 70 million euros, bonus included, to recruit him, and it is exactly for this constant contribution, on both sides of the field.
Offensively, his specialty, the Moroccan has multiplied actions and centers.
He is already at ease and all that is missing is precision.
Defensively, an area of improvement, he put his team in danger as on this fault on Jonathan Bamba (5th) at the entrance to its surface.
What to offer Burak Yilmaz, executioner of PSG in Ligue 1 last year, a double opportunity (5th, 7th).
Wijnaldum satisfaction
Lille changed coach this summer, from Christophe Galtier to Jocelyn Gourvennec. But the mentality and the game guided by rapid transitions are still present. The evening confrontation resembled, somewhat, that of April 5 at the Parc des Princes between a PSG with the ball but inoffensive and an incisive, realistic and victorious Losc (1-0). The only goal of the meeting is signed by midfielder Xeka, just before the break. The Portuguese took advantage of the spaces left by Danilo and the young Dina Ebimbe to unleash a heavy shot in the scope of Keylor Navas (45th). The goalkeeper, who will enter this week in competition with the Italian European champion Donnarumma, was to bow on one of the only northern chances.
In the ranks of satisfaction for Mauricio Pochettino?
The entry of another recruit, the Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum (71st).
Already in legs and comfortable with the ball to the foot, he thought he offered a nice assist for Mauro Icardi, too discreet this Sunday.
But the Argentinian was in an offside position when he deceived goalkeeper Léo Jardim.
The latter was more in demand than Navas, showing himself decisive in front of a heavy strike from Draxler (28th), the heads of Diallo (57th) and Danilo (88th) or an attempt in the area of Wijnaldum (90th + 1).
Back as the holder, Presnel Kimpembe also showed great things.
But PSG need to really launch their preparation with all their stars.
See you on Monday for Neymar & Cie.
MATCH SHEET
Half-time:
1-0.
Referee:
Yigal Frid (Isr)
Spectators:
29,000.
Goal.
Lille: Xeka (45th).
Warnings.
Lille: Araujo (78th), Jardim (90th).
PSG: Kehrer (30th), Diallo (52nd), Draxler (84th), Danilo (90th).
Lille:
Jardim - Djalo, Fonte (cap.), Botman, Reinildo - Araujo (Ikoné, 85th), Xeka (Yazici, 79th), André, Bamba (Bradaric, 85th) - David, Yilmaz.
Entr.
: Gourvennec.
PSG:
Navas - Hakimi, Kehrer, Kimpembe (cap.) (Kurzawa, 81st), Diallo - Herrera, Danilo, Dina Ebimbe (Wijnaldum, 71st) - Draxler, Icardi, Kalimuendo (Gharbi, 81st).
Entr.
: Pochettino.
