PSG vs. Lyon: Score and Reaction from 2015 Champions Trophy
Paris Saint-Germain continued their fine pre-season form, capturing the French Super Cup inย Montreal on Saturday, as they convincingly beat Lyon 2-0.
Goals fromย Serge Aurier and Edinson Cavani were enough on the night, as the French capital clubย boldly marched toward the new campaign with another confident performance.
PSG started the match in theirย preferredย 4-3-3 formation, with both Cavani and Lucas Moura supporting Zlatanย Ibrahimovic in attack. Lyon mirrored their opponent's approach, featuring the highly rated Alexandre Lacazette as striker.
The Ligue 1 champions began the match in full control, dominating possession as Ibrahimovicย found plenty of space in which to operate.
And PSG made it count, stealing into an 11th-minute lead through the most simple of headed finishes by Aurier. A set pieceย pinballedย around the Lyon penalty box, landing at the feet of PSG centre-back David Luiz, whose cross was converted by the full-back.ย
Paris No Limit shared the moment on social media:
"[Vidรฉo] Le but de Serge #Aurier face ร Lyon #PSGOL #PSG https://t.co/IszMDU5dNB
โ Paris No Limitโข (@ParisNoLimit) August 1, 2015"
The Parisiens doubled their lead just six minutes later when Uruguay hitman Cavani struck. Ibrahimovic latched onto a fine through ball from Aurier and shot at goal. Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes parried the attempt, only for Cavani to dispatch the rebound, making it 2-0.
Bleacher Report's Peter Galindo congratulated PSG's play and called the action:
PSG continued to dominate the first half, with Ibrahimovic at his most brilliant. The Swede found space at will, and Lyon had no answers for his skill and trickery.ย
With Cavani advanced in the front three, PSG used Ibra as the focal point, allowing him to roam and find the ball.
L'Actu Foot shared footage of the striker's moves as he strutted through his opponent's lines:
The second half continued as if the first hadn't ended, with PSG in full command without breaking sweat. Lyon were constantly pinned inside their own half and did not appear to have the confidence to attack their illustrious rivals.
This allowed PSG to maintain the lion's share of territory, isolating Lacazette away from the main hub of the action.
Aurier put in one of his best displays in a PSG shirt and was a constant menace bursting forward from right-back, with Lyon having no defensive answer to his effervescence.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson highlighted the Ivorian's brilliant display:
Brazilian defender Thiago Silva almost killed the match as a spectacle after 53 minutes, heading just wide of Lopes' goal.ย
Things got worse for Les Gones just after the hour mark, when France international Maxime Gonalons saw red for a second bookable offence.
Ibrahimovicย was Lyon's tormentor once again on this occasion, and Gonalons' challenge on the mercurial striker earned him a second yellow card.
Lyon simply could not get into the match and were totally outclassed, forcing manager Hubert Fournier to switch tactics and personnel.
With the game drawing to its obvious conclusion, Zlatan was once again closest to sealing the result, forcing a save from Lopes with a shot from the edge of the box in the dying minutes.
It was a simple day's work for PSG, and the Trophee des Championsย was deservedly theirs.ย
Lyon are miles away from the qualityย PSG are currently outputting, and it seems as if only one club can win Ligue 1 this term.
Ibrahimovic looked as impressive as ever, and if the arrival of Angel Di Maria materialises, reported byย Sky Sports, PSG will be almost unstoppable in French football.
Di Maria's quality to assist will see Ibrahimovic become even more dangerous, with the Argentinian's pace and creativity likely to be too much for most defences in Ligue 1.
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