good evening everyone plenty of reasons to expect a compelling contest tonight here on the french
capital paris we're at the pactic pass i'm your match commentator derek ray and ready to provide
expert analysis alongside me is stuart robson and we've got so much to look forward to this is where
it all begins in europe's premier club competition the uefa champions league the group stage match
day one action it's paris saint-germain up against iax well derek although the hosts are clear
favorites this could prove to be a tricky game for them unless they score an early goal because
their opponents will sit deep remain compact and defend with determination they also pose a
threat on the counter attack and are really good at set plays it's going to be an interesting one
ramos plays alongside marquinhos in central defence
and the main threat in attack today should be killian vape
well here's the starting lineup for iax well it's a 4-3-3 formation with a center forward
and two wingers so it's important that the midfield players give support to the
striker whenever the ball goes wide they can't allow him to be isolated
it's the opening match day champions league group stage match day one underway
good pressure can they make something of this oh lovely incisive pass
in the center
messi
akimi
what is he now
messi in the vicinity that's a great stop well his reflexes are so good there that's a fantastic stop
will the keeper have to pay the price for that mistake
well here it is again and there's no getting away
from it it's a big blunder he's just got that all wrong hasn't he
so underway again here one little to score
attacking possibilities edson alvarez will he play it in
showing good patience oh but they've lost it now
showing excellent vision my goodness the importance of getting there
was not lost on the keeper
and providing with
daily blintz and the cross is very much on
with the ball again
masrawi
here's berghaus tadich using a strength to shield the ball that's not a bad ball simple save really
and neymar an authoritative challenge
i'm really pressing their opponents oh that's a really good authoritative tackle throw in here
it's a good looking ball in behind and a goal to increase their advantage to two overall
that little bit of a cushion now it's all about keeping the concentration
well let's take another look if you lose the ball in those areas
you're gonna get punished and that's exactly what happened there
so two-nil now
in there to intercept and the advantages with psg
hakimi mares in the advanced position but will they be able to produce well he didn't
trouble the goalkeeper but it wasn't a straightforward chance you've got to say
can they hit on the break
straight up the keeper but technically good goalkeeping
sebastian tavich has it
now with alair oh that's a really good run a wonderful intervention
hakimi
the ball back with iax now
sebastian alaire there's a slide draw pass
and then
could pull one back here great work defensively but still the chance
and there it is still life left in this game and they have the momentum now
well here's the goal again and you have to say the patience of the passing is outstanding
they're just waiting for the right time to penetrate and the finish is clinical
hitting it cleanly beyond the keeper that's a good goal
the ball is moving again anyone's guess how this is going to finish 2-1 currently
hakimi good use of advantage in favor of psg possession and patience the watchwords
crossing opportunity gay now mattis and he takes on the shots strong hand on that one
high pressing at its best
good pressure high up the pitch neymar ready at the far post and neymar has done it
well here it is again and what a perfect cross into the box this is
just inviting someone to attack it and then what a great finish as well
good connection with the ball leaving the keeper with little chance it's a great goal
and so the halftime question has gone here at the pac de press in paris
neymar is having a wonderful game and proving to be a real handful for the
defenders you've got to say stuart yeah what a performance he's putting in here
great movement lots of energy and a very good finish for his goal he's been excellent
second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
hakimi and now gay ramos
working away patiently looking for an opening this is sergio ramos
riyad mahrez
and i axe worth the ball once more
now the outcome is a free kick here
this looks interesting delivered into the box and a bit short with the clearance well such
a high degree of difficulty not quite in the end well how good was that it's
such a difficult piece of skill which he made look so easy that deserved a goal
well psg have controlled most the possession as you can see and that's been because of
their ability to win the ball back so quickly their pressing has been excellent and they just
haven't stopped working it's been a fantastic performance up to now getting the ball forward
neymar has a go here
a really sumptuous ball tadic
showing considerable guile
takes the shot well flinging himself up the ball
here it is now a substitution
and he's fired over the corner on the corner too close to the goalkeeper that time
sebastian
chance to cross can they get in behind them
could be dangerous well they keep working away looking for an opening well it came
to nothing in the end and the conditions look pretty good for the counter attack
do they have the guile to open up the defense
a glorious chance that's a great stop well his reflexes are so good there that's a fantastic stop
to go to the bench at this stage of the game
piece of defending
it's with berghaus racing forward trying to catch them out
sebastian well that's just exceptional he reacted so quickly there substitution it is for psg
and a short corner let's see that's how to dispossess your opponent
being pressed and pressed high
good pressure to win the ball back high up the pitch
keeping it on the ground slightly off target however
substitution then let's see how it affects the match
just 10 minutes to go and he was in the right place to intercept
the ball back with psg now
marquinhos well not far away from the final whistle and psg very much in control well
they've controlled most of the game haven't they their one and two touch passing has
been sharp they could be in here stuart well they haven't overcome all the difficulties
high quality defending
difficult to stop him well he's allowed it to go over the touchline so a throw in
marquinhos hakimi
andresa gay setting off perhaps a little bit too much here when he saw the situation developing
well the referee has instructed the fourth official to put two minutes on the board
mohammed kudus
klassen
and he comes inside what's an important piece of defending
so full time it is and the morale boosting three points on the board to begin the european campaign
yeah it's so vital to get off to a quick start in these group stages they'll be happy with the
three points but now they have to back it up in the next game six points and you're halfway there
now just the sort of performance they were looking for from the talented
killian mbappe yeah he'll be happy coming off the pitch he worked hard he was always
involved in the game and he scored a very good goal that was an impressive performance today