Ten days after making a successful Champions League season debut at the Parc des Princes against Atalanta (4-0), Paris Saint-Germain returned to their home ground and to Ligue 1 action for the sixth matchday of the league season against AJ Auxerre. Facing the Bourguignons, Luis Enrique and his men were aiming to bounce back immediately after their narrow defeat in the previous match and take advantage of Monaco's slip-up earlier in the evening to take the lead in the standings.
To do this, the Parisian coach fielded a central defensive pairing of Illia Zabarnyi and Lucas Beraldo in front of goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. Warren Zaïre-Emery started at right-back with Lucas Hernandez on the opposite flank, while Vitinha, captain for the night, took his place in the defensive midfield role alongside Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-In. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ibrahim Mbaye started on the wings, supporting Gonçalo Ramos in the middle.
The crowd were in full voice to celebrate the Parisian team, especially Ousmane Dembélé and Luis Enrique, who claimed the Ballon d'Or and coach of the season awards this week. They watched as the capital club kicked off the match in a festive Parc des Princes atmosphere. The Parisians quickly took control of the match, suffocating the Auxerre side that were restrcited to their defensive third.
Active on the right wing, Ibrahim Mbaye took advantage of his first start with the first team to showcase his speed and attacking prowess. But it took half an hour for Paris to create their first real chance, with two quick-fire shots from Lee Kang-In and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (32'). Donovan Léon conceded a corner, which the Rouge et Bleu capitalised on when Illia Zabarnyi opened his left foot at the far post to score his first goal for Paris (1-0, 32').
After providing the assist for Paris' opening goal for the fourth time this season, captain Vitinha was immediately substituted, replaced by Achraf Hakimi, who took over the captain's armband (36'). Behind, the visitors then tried to get closer to Lucas Chevalier's goal to draw level with the capital club before the break, but failed to threaten the Parisian goalkeeper. After the break, Bradley Barcola replaced Kvaratskhelia and immediately made his mark by working Donovan Léon (47').
Paris came out strong in the second half and once again relied on their central defence to increase their lead. After cutting inside on his right foot, Senny Mayulu sent a cross to Lucas Beraldo from the left, who headed home to make it 2–0 in the 55th minute! If they wanted to get back into the game, the Bourguignons had no choice but to switch to a more attacking formation.
Solid in midfield, French U23 international Kévin Danois took his chance from 20 yards out and saw his clear shot hit Lucas Chevalier's left post (58'). Moments later, Cameroonian international Danny Namaso did the same from the edge of the box, but the Parisian goalkeeper brilliantly deflected the ball for a corner (67'). As the two teams prepared to play the last quarter of an hour of the match, young Quentin Ndjantou tried his luck from outside the box, but failed to hit the target (74').
The young Parisian winger, who had come on a few moments earlier, was playing his very first minutes with the senior team. He was joined on the Parc pitch by another Titi, Mathis Jangeal, who came on in the 80th minute and also made his first appearance for Luis Enrique's team. But it was the former who stood out the most, forcing the AJA goalkeeper to work hard to keep his team in the game (88').
However, it wasn't enough for the visitors, who were comprehensively beaten by a Paris Saint-Germain side that dominated from start to finish. Back at the top of the league, the capital club can now turn its attention to the Champions League and its trip to Barcelona next Wednesday (9pm), for the second matchday of the group phase. The date is set!
