PSG edges Angers to take Ligue 1 lead
Paris Saint-Germain may not have dazzled, but they did enough to secure another win and climb to the top of Ligue 1. On Friday evening at the Parc des Princes, the defending champions beat Angers 1-0, thanks to a goal from Fabian Ruiz just after the break. It wasn’t a dominant or flashy performance, but it was effective—and for PSG, that is often all that matters in the early weeks of the season.
The match started quietly, with PSG controlling possession but struggling to break down Angers’ compact defense. The visitors defended deep and looked to frustrate the Parisians, and it worked for a while. The best chance of the first half came in the 27th minute when Ousmane Dembélé had the opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot after João Neves was fouled in the box. But Dembélé struck with too much power, sending the ball sailing over the crossbar. That miss could have shifted momentum, but Angers never really capitalized. Their only real threat came from a strike by Belkhdim midway through the second half, easily their closest chance.
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It was Fabian Ruiz who eventually unlocked the game in the 50th minute. Positioned perfectly inside the penalty area after a deflected cross, the Spanish midfielder—naturally a left-footer—took the chance with his right and slotted it past Angers’ goalkeeper Koffi. The finish wasn’t spectacular, but it carried weight. Ruiz not only gave PSG the lead but also reminded fans why he has become such a reliable presence under Luis Enrique. His vision and composure shaped much of PSG’s rhythm, and he even struck the post later in the game, showing he could have added a second.
The remainder of the match unfolded with PSG keeping control but without pressing too hard for more goals. Lucas Chevalier, in goal for his first appearance at the Parc in PSG colors, barely had to intervene. Instead, the evening’s most unexpected twist came when referee Hakim Ben El Hadj had to be replaced after a muscle injury just 20 minutes into the game.
In the final minutes, both Nuno Mendes and Ruiz had chances to double the score, but they weren’t converted. Still, the Parc des Princes erupted in chants, satisfied enough with the win and the sight of their team sitting atop the table after just two rounds.
The big talking point, though, may linger around penalties. After Vitinha’s miss earlier this month in the Super Cup, and now Dembélé’s costly failure, questions will surely be raised about who should be trusted from the spot going forward. For Dembélé, last season’s Ligue 1 top scorer, the pressure is mounting as he waits to get off the mark this campaign.
In the end, it was not a sparkling performance by PSG, but a steady one. Early in the season, results matter more than style. And for now, Luis Enrique’s men are exactly where they want to be—at the very top.
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