PSG vs. Lyon: Winners and Losers from French Super Cup
Paris Saint-Germain won a third straight French Super Cup with an easy 2-0 victory over Lyon on Saturday in Montreal.
Serge Aurier scored the opener in the 11th minute and helped create PSG's second, which was netted by Edinson Cavani six minutes later.
Lyon struggled to create chances throughout the match and had Maxime Gonalons sent off in the second half.
Here are our choices for winners and losers for the traditional curtain-raiser for the new Ligue 1 season.
Winner: Serge Aurier
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Serge Aurier turned in a sparkling 90 minutes for PSG at right-back. The Ivorian scored the opener, helped set up PSG's second and posed a constant threat down the right flank throughout the game.
His goal came in the 11th minute after Lyon were unable to clear a free kick. David Luiz chased down a loose ball on the right and fired a cross into the goalmouth, where Aurier was waiting to power in a close-range header.
The Ivorian turned provider in the 17th minute, starting the move that led to PSG's second goal. Receiving a pass near the right touchline, Aurier freed Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a precise through ball. Ibrahimovic forced Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes into a save, but the ball rebounded to Edinson Cavani, who rifled into the roof of the net for 2-0.
Aurier wasn't done, though. PSG did not score again, but the 22-year-old defender continued making dangerous forays into the opposition's half until full-time. Meanwhile, he controlled his flank and limited Lyon's attacks with solid defending.
As PSG prepare for the start of the Ligue 1 season, Aurier seems assured of a starting spot in manager Laurent Blanc's side. Incumbent Gregory van der Wiel was not even on the bench Saturday.
Based on his showing against Lyon, Aurier is set for a productive season with the French champions.
Loser: Lyon
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Saturday's game represented a valuable opportunity for Lyon. Following a poor run of results this preseason, Les Gones had the chance to start the new season on a positive note.
Instead, it was more of the same. So far this preseason, Hubert Fournier's team has lost to Sion, PSV Eindhoven, Villarreal and, most notably, 6-0 to Arsenal. The scoreline wasn't quite as embarrassing against PSG, but as B/R contributor Andy Brassell noted on Twitter, only a strong display from goalkeeper Anthony Lopes prevented the Parisians from running up the score.
There were, it should be noted, extenuating factors. Lyon played Saturday without the suspended Nabil Fekir and injured playmaker Clement Grenier. But Les Gones hardly put up a fight, failing to register a shot on target until the 89th minute.
Lyon have won the Trophee des Champions a record eight times, but Saturday's performance showed how much work is needed to catch French football's best side at present.
Winner: Kevin Trapp
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When PSG signed goalkeeper Kevin Trapp from Eintracht Frankfurt in June, the deal immediately threw Salvatore Sirigu's future in doubt. Sirigu had served as the club's No. 1, but the arrival of a new, younger shot-stopper indicated that manager Laurent Blanc was at least considering a change.
This preseason seems to have underlined that assumption. Trapp started all of PSG's matches at the International Champions Cup and did so again Saturday in the French Super Cup. At this point, it seems certain that Trapp is now Blanc's first choice in goal.
"Trapp gives Blanc reassurances in 2 key areas," B/R contributor Jonathan Johnson tweeted. "Better in the air and better with ball at his feet."
Not that Trapp had much to do against Lyon, who failed to trouble him throughout the 90 minutes and only registered a first shot on target just before full time. The true test of the German goalkeeper's talents will come during the regular season, but he appears to have won his first battle for playing time at his new club.
Losers: The Rest of Ligue 1
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Saturday's match marked the end of a highly successful preseason for PSG, who will now head into the new campaign full of confidence.
After beating Wiener SK in a friendly, the Parisians won the North American section of the International Champions Cup with an unbeaten record. Against Lyon, Laurent Blanc's men were a class above, dominating their opponents over 90 minutes.
That bodes poorly for the rest of Ligue 1, whose 19 remaining teams already have a tough task in catching up to the three-time defending champions. PSG finished eight-points clear of second-placed Lyon last season, and if anything, the gap only seems to have widened.
Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp appears a valuable addition to the squad, and PSG are reportedly closing on a deal to sign Angel Di Maria, a world-class Argentine attacker, from Manchester United.
"Regarding Angel Di Maria, the case is close to being completed," Blanc said last week, per Goal. "I am quite positive on this case."
After winning four domestic trophies last season, PSG look primed for more success. Can anyone in Ligue 1 stop them?
