Mbappé, Hakimi shine as PSG opens Champions League with 2-0 win against Dortmund
In a thrilling start to their Champions League campaign, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a 2-0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund. The electrifying match saw striker Kylian Mbappé and right-back Achraf Hakimi emerge as the heroes for PSG.
Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a confidently taken penalty, awarded after a video review. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano's decision stood as he determined that defender Niklas Süle had handled the ball from Mbappé's shot. The French sensation coolly placed the ball into the bottom left corner, eluding the grasp of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, marking his eighth goal in just five games this season. This feat extended his club-record tally to an impressive 220 goals in 265 games.
Nine minutes later, Hakimi showcased his brilliance when he swapped passes with midfielder Vitinha and skillfully maneuvered past a defender before curling the ball into the bottom left corner with the outside of his right foot from close range.
"It’s a very important game for us, we’ve started the competition well," said 23-year-old Portugal international Vitinha, who is in his second season with PSG. "It’s important for me as well. I want to help the team even more in the upcoming matches."
Under the leadership of former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, PSG has set high expectations for this year's Champions League campaign. The team, which has never won the competition, faced early exits from the tournament in the last two seasons despite having superstar players like Lionel Messi and Neymar in their ranks.
Upon Luis Enrique's arrival, he was faced with the departure of Messi and Neymar, leaving only Mbappé from the formidable attacking trio. To bolster the squad, forward Randal Kolo Muani joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for 95 million euros ($103 million) and made his first start in this game, playing at center forward alongside former Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé.
The match featured an intense opening, with Donyell Malen of Dortmund testing PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Vitinha hitting the post in the 19th minute. In the later stages of the first half, Kolo Muani's low strike was saved, leaving the first half goalless.
PSG exhibited a more dominant performance in the second half. A cross from Dembélé found Mbappé, whose snapshot clipped Süle's arm as he fell to the ground, earning PSG a penalty despite Dortmund's protests. Both PSG and Dortmund have had shaky starts to their respective league campaigns. PSG currently sits in fifth place in Ligue 1, coming off a home defeat to Nice, while Dortmund is in seventh place in the Bundesliga. PSG's vulnerability to fast counterattacks was exposed by Nice.
This performance represented a more composed PSG, although Dortmund, led by coach Edin Terzić, struggled to create meaningful opportunities in attack. Looking ahead, PSG will face Newcastle, while Dortmund will host AC Milan on October 4th in their next Champions League fixtures.
SportsLigue