Paris Saint-Germain finally secures its first victory of the Ligue 1 season. Closing the 4th matchday, the reigning two-time European champions won on Sunday evening at Brest’s stadium (0-1), thanks to a goal by Ferran Torres in the 5th minute. After draws at Rennes (2-2) and Lille (2-2), then a defeat against Monaco (1-2), Paris unlocks its win tally in the championship. Four days after crushing Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in the Champions League, PSG confirms its recovery, even if this time the victory was much harder to achieve.
Ferran Torres strikes in the 5th minute, Safonov saves Paris
Paris only needs five minutes to open the scoring. João Neves recovers the ball and quickly launches Ousmane Dembélé, who sets up Ferran Torres with a backheel. The Spaniard curls a right-footed shot from about twenty meters, beating Egil Selvik low to the ground. His third goal of the Ligue 1 season immediately puts PSG ahead.
The Parisians have several chances to extend the lead, notably through Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Brest stays in the game. The Parisian evening is also marked by the exit of Achraf Hakimi, injured and replaced by Fabian Ruiz in the 39th minute. After the break, the Bretons create their best chances. Kamory Doumbia takes advantage of a poor clearance by Nuno Mendes and hits the post in the 50th minute. Seven minutes later, Matvey Safonov makes a decisive save on a header from the same Doumbia. The Russian goalkeeper preserves the Parisian lead until the end.
The match was played in a special atmosphere at Francis-Le Blé, where a strong tribute was paid to Éric Roy, who passed away in June. His family was present and many activities were organized by the club and supporters. Two days earlier, Jérôme Alonzo had regretted the absence of a widespread tribute from the League to the former Brest coach.
Lille takes the lead, Monaco and Rennes follow
This 4th matchday started on Friday with another setback for Marseille. Rennes defeated OM 1-0, handing the Marseillais their third defeat in four games. OM remains stuck at only 3 points before precisely hosting PSG in the next round.
On Saturday, Strasbourg and Monaco drew 1-1. Auxerre earned its first points of the season by beating Nice 1-0, while Le Havre and Angers failed to separate (0-0). Lorient, leading 2-0, saw Toulouse come back to 2-2. The same scoreline, but goalless, occurred between Paris FC and Lyon (0-0).
On Sunday, Lille perfectly took advantage of its competitors’ results. LOSC won 2-0 against Troyes thanks to Tiago Santos and Ethan Mbappé and took first place on goal difference. In the afternoon, Le Mans led 2-0 against Lens before the French runners-up came back to 2-2. Brest-PSG then concluded the day with Paris’s first league win of the season.
All results of the 4th matchday
Rennes beats Marseille 1-0. Strasbourg and Monaco draw 1-1. Auxerre beats Nice 1-0. Le Havre and Angers draw 0-0. Lorient and Toulouse draw 2-2. Paris FC and Lyon draw 0-0. Lille beats Troyes 2-0. Le Mans and Lens draw 2-2. Finally, PSG wins 1-0 at Brest.
The standings after four matchdays
Lille is now leader with 10 points and a goal difference of +5, ahead of Monaco, also with 10 points (+4), and Rennes, 10 points (+3). Paris FC is 4th with 8 points ahead of Lyon, also with 8 points. Strasbourg follows with 7 points.
Behind, the Parisian win tightens the standings: PSG, Brest, and Lorient each have 5 points. Lens has 4 points, as do Angers and Troyes. Marseille remains at 3 points, like Le Mans and Auxerre. Le Havre, Toulouse, and Nice are at the bottom with 2 points. Lille therefore already has a 7-point lead over OM, while PSG comes back to 5 points from the leader after its slow start.
An already fiery OM-PSG in the next matchday
The 5th matchday will start Friday, September 18 at 8:45 PM with Monaco-Lens. On Saturday, September 19, Paris FC will host Strasbourg at 5:15 PM. At 8:45 PM, Angers-Troyes, Le Mans-Lorient, Lyon-Rennes, and Toulouse-Le Havre will be played.
On Sunday, September 20, Auxerre will host Brest at 3 PM, before Nice-Lille at 5:15 PM. The day will end at 8:45 PM with Marseille-PSG, the first Classique of the season. The encounter arrives in two totally different situations: Paris has just unlocked its tally at Brest while Marseille remains on three consecutive Ligue 1 defeats. A Parisian victory at the Vélodrome would already leave OM five points behind PSG after only five matchdays.
