Rare season-opening win lifts PSG spirits

Brazilian winger Lucas sees 10-man side through against Lille in French Ligue 1

PARIS: A second-half goal from Brazilian winger Lucas Moura gave 10-man Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a 1-0 win, their first in a Ligue 1 opener since their new Qatari owners took over in 2011, at Lille on Friday.

The three-time Ligue 1 champions were a player down after half an hour after midfielder Adrien Rabiot was given his marching orders for two yellow cards in the space of five minutes.

Rabiot picked up the first on 22 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Lille midfielder Florent Balmont, and minutes later was sent off by referee Fredy Fautrel for a foul on defender Sebastian Corchia.

The 20-year-old Rabiot, who had a spat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a friendly against Chelsea in July, had been favoured by Laurent Blanc over Thiago Motta despite several run-ins with the coach at the end of last season.

“It’s a fact of the game,” said Blanc of Rabiot’s expulsion. “The first card was perhaps a little severe, the second foul was an error of youth: when you have a yellow card you don’t get a second.”

The Parisians had been struggling to contain Lille who finished eighth last season and were playing their first competitive match under new coach Herve Renard.

Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore filled in for injured Swede Ibrahimovic while awaiting the availability of new Argentinian recruit Angel Di Maria.

PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who arrived from Frankfurt for €12 million from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, was in goal at the expense of Italian Salvatore Sirigu.

But the misfortune of Rabiot, who has been no stranger to controversy, spurred Blanc’s side into action.

After Rabiot’s explusion, Lille’s Eric Bauthéac stepped up but failed to convert the resulting free kick which David Luiz and Trapp managed to contain.

Lucas, who scored seven Ligue 1 goals last season, finally got the breakthrough after 57 minutes to give PSG their first away win in a season opener in 19 years.

“I’m very happy with my goal, it was good for the club and for my confidence,” said Lucas. “We’re going to be even better with Di Maria who is an exceptional player.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.

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