Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 1, 17/08/25

PSG got their Ligue 1 title defense underway with a sluggish 1-0 away win at Nantes. The Champions League winners claimed all three points courtesy of Vitinha’s deflected winner.

The Match

On the back of their energy-sapping UEFA Super Cup victory at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, PSG took on Nantes with a revamped side as Illia Zabarnyi and Lucas Beraldo both started at the back. On the other hand, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué were benched.

Les Parisiens were unsurprisingly the most enterprising side, but they lacked a clinical edge near Anthony Lopes’ penalty box. Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos were particularly wasteful. The Portugal centre-forward went the closest to opening the scoring, but his attempt from a tight angle – a near carbon-copy of Pauleta’s famous 2004 goal against Marseille – only found Lopes’ crossbar.

For their part, Nantes could hold their head high. They were tactically on point, negating PSG’s strengths in shifting to a 6-3-1 formation to overload PSG’s midfielders. Nantes’ right-winger, Yassine Benhattab, was a real thorn up Lucas Hernandez’s side. The second half offered pretty much the same scenario as PSG could not work their way towards Lopes’ goal, forcing Luis Enrique to turn to his star-studded bench. Achraf Hakimi, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes all went on at the hour mark.

PSG eventually broke the deadlock minutes after the quatuor’s introduction. Nuno Mendes squared the ball for Vitinha outside of the penalty box. The skipper’s shot ricocheted off Chidozie Awaziem’s leg, which took Lopes by surprise. PSG thought they had a two-goal cushion as Ramos found Lopes’ back of the net with a powerful shot, but the Portuguese was offside. 

Nantes tried their luck in the dying minutes, but their final touch continued to disappoint. Despite Matthis Abline’s introduction, they ended tonight’s game without registering a single shot on target. PSG face Angers on Friday whereas Nantes will go to Strasbourg.

PSG player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 5

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 4

Illia Zabarnyi – 6

For his first outing since his €66m move from Bournemouth, the Ukrainian centre-back has looked confident in his positioning and passing. He notably intercepted a dangerous pass for Louis Leroux, who was sent through on goal. A confident start.

Lucas Beraldo – 5

Lucas Hernandez – 4

Fabian Ruiz – 4

Vitinha – 6

Kang-in Lee – 4

Ibrahim Mbaye – 3

The youngster has been very poor and made little differences on Nantes’ left channel. He didn’t complete a single dribble nor manage a single cross. Hooked at the hour mark.

Gonçalo Ramos – 3

The Portuguese was rewarded for his Super Cup midweek heroics with a Ligue 1 start, but he made very little use of it, squandering the few chances he was given. He thought he’d scored PSG’s second goal, but he was offside.

Bradley Barcola – 4

Nantes selected player ratings

Tylel Tati – 6

The centre-back kept his nerves, and Gonçalo Ramos at bay, to deliver an impressing defensive display for an 18-year-old. One to watch.  

Johann Lepenant – 5

Yassine Benhattab – 6

The pacy winger has had a remarkable first half. Always on the front foot, the former Aubagne player often got the better of Lucas Hernandez.