PSG regains isolated lead in Ligue 1
João Neves and Nuno Mendes were starters for the team from the French capital, with the full-back committing the penalty that gave Brest the goal, while the midfielder was decisive in the final 3-1
PSG went all out to host Brest , aiming to win and regain sole leadership of Ligue 1 , after the victories of Marseille and Monaco on this fourth matchday of Ligue 1, and that’s what they achieved, with a 3-1 victory.
Nuno Mendes returned to the starting eleven, after missing the last match due to a virus, and João Neves made his third consecutive start, with the first two big chances coming from the Portuguese, but Bizot prevented both from scoring.
However, despite the numerous goal-scoring opportunities, it was the visitors who opened the scoring, after a mistake by Nuno Mendes , who pulled Ajorque ‘s shirt in the penalty area, causing a penalty in the 28th minute. The referee had no doubts and immediately signalled the penalty, also showing the Portuguese player a yellow card. Castillo shot into the middle and scored the first goal of the match.
The Parisians’ response came close to half-time, with Ousmane Dembélé heading the ball into the back of the net to level the score, following a good cross from Asensio , in the 42nd minute.
Nuno Mendes ended up being replaced by Luis Enrique, in the 63rd minute, largely because of the yellow card he received in the first half, and, a few minutes later, João Neves sent Asensio one-on-one with Bizot , but the Spaniard’s goal was immediately disallowed for offside.
The 1-1 draw was broken by a great goal from Fabián Ruiz , who replaced Vitinha in Luis Enrique’s starting eleven and shot from outside the penalty area, with a well-placed shot that was beyond the reach of the opposing goalkeeper. The former FC Porto midfielder was injured for Portugal at the end of the game against Croatia and, therefore, was not in Luis Enrique’s starting eleven for the first time this season, while Gonçalo Ramos remains out until at least November.
After regaining the lead, it took just a few seconds for PSG to make it 2-0, thanks in no small part to João Neves , who immediately won the ball back and set up Kolo Muani for the goal, but a clearance from the Brest defence prevented the former Benfica player from making his fifth assist in the French league. Dembélé took advantage of the rebound and scored his second, with the goal almost wide open.
Four wins from four games, or 12 points for PSG in Ligue 1 , the only team to do so in France , before hosting Girona on matchday one of the Champions League . Brest remain in 12th place with just three points, which came in their last match, when they beat Saint-Etiènne 4-0.
