PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 2-0 Toulouse: Kylian Mbappé on target as PSG retain Trophée des Champions | OneFootball

There was an uncanny air to French football’s curtain-raiser for the 2024 calendar year. Having originally been scheduled to be played in Thailand last summer, the Trophée des Champions clash between PSG and Coupe de France holders Toulouse was then postponed when the local organisers backed out.

The back-up plan, as it turned out, was an early-January fixture at the Parc des Princes – the home ground of one of the two teams in action. With the overwhelming majority of the stadium occupied by Parisian fans and both sets of ultras boycotting the game, PSG were effectively hosts in all but name. Some elements did allow for a veneer of impartiality, such as the announcer’s subdued reaction to goals.

The Ligue 1 leaders were on the front foot straight away – a barrage of early attacks saw Toulouse give in when Ousmane Dembélé volleyed in a cross into the middle of the box, and Kang-in Lee was on hand to sweep past Guillaume Restes for the opener. Les Violets would scarcely see the other half of the ptch – a lobbed effort from just past the halfway line from Aron Dønnum and a Gabriel Suazo foray into the box being their clearest chances in the opening exchanges.

The next half hour saw the visitors fare better in terms of withstanding PSG’s intricate combinations around the box – that is, until Kylian Mbappé’s dagger blow just before the break doubled the lead. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box from Barcola, the France captain shimmied past the defender before firing his shot past Restes to open his account for the calendar year.

By the hour mark, Toulouse had finally found their tempo, with several chances in quick succession troubling Gianluigi Donnarumma – the captain Vincent Sierro coming closest wth a close-range effort that bobbled agonisingly wide.

PSG were mostly untroubled for the rest of the game, though, and comfortably saw out a fairly routine win. The highlight of a fairly pedestrian second half for the hosts will have been Lucas Beraldo’s debut, coming on for Milan Škriniar – the 20-year-old Brazilian, whose signing was announced just days ago, was cheered by the Parc des Princes at every touch he took.

PSG player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 6 – The Italian was busier in the second half, and a flurry of saves in the final ten minutes laid to rest any chances of a Toulouse comeback.

Achraf Hakimi, 4

Marquinhos, 6

Milan Škriniar, 6

Lucas Hernandez, 6

Warren Zaïre-Emery, 5

Vitinha, 5 – Not quite up to the standard of his recent performances, but the Portuguese midfielder did play a role in several PSG attacks – notably the diagonal ball for Ousmane Dembélé for the opening goal.

Lee Kang-in, 7 – The South Korean opened the scoring after two minutes – before nearly doubling his tally with an overhead kick – and offered an impressive all-round midfield display. A stark contrast to the dip in form he experienced during the autumn, and a fitting send-off before leaving for international duty.

Ousmane Dembélé, 7 – Set the tone for an impressive performance by providing a volleyed assist for the opener. Consistently broke through down the right wing, beating defenders with ease and combining well with the central Kylian Mbappé. Démbélé is comfortably the most effective dribbler in the country – and with his early-season struggle for end product now behind him, he is a devastating asset for PSG when on song.

Kylian Mbappé, 6 – The forward looked is looking increasingly at ease as a central striker – albeit with the freedom to roam across the frontline. His intricate combinations with Barcole on the left and Dembélé on the right were the source of most of PSG’s chances, and he doubled the lead on half-time. His influence somewhat waned after the break, though.

Bradley Barcola, 6 – A similar impact to Dembélé in terms of destabilising an entire flank – he does lack his compatriot’s accuracy for the time being, but it was another promising display from the 21-year-old. Replaced by Randal Kolo Muani with 25 minutes remaining.

Toulouse player ratings

Guillaume Restes, 6

Christian Mawissa, 5

Rasmus Nicolaisen, 5

Moussa Diarra, 4

Gabriel Suazo, 5 – Arguably Toulouse’s biggest attacking threat – he came close to equalising in the first half after a run into the box. His crosses were too inaccurate to cause any real damage, though.

Cristian Cásseres, 6

Stijn Spierings, 4

Vincient Sierro, 4

Aron Dønnum, 4

Thijs Dallinga, 5 – Predictably, the Dutchman had little service for the majority of the game. He did keep the PSG defence busy though, and got a few shots away after the break – to no avail, though.

César Gelabert, 5

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin