Three things Luis Enrique can make out of PSG’s 6-0 win over Montpellier | OneFootball

PSG’s first home game of the 2024-25 season saw Luis Enrique’s side lock horns with Montpellier at Parc des Princes, giving fans their first look at the remodelled team.

Coming off a 4-1 win over Le Havre on matchday one, the Parisiens had the momentum going for them ahead of the game. What transpired over the next 90 minutes only fortified their feeling of supremacy.

PSG slotted six goals past the visitors last night, with the scoring opening as early as the fourth minute through a Bradley Barcola wonder strike before Marco Asensio made it 2-0 in the first half.

After the break, Barcola completed his brace to make it 3-0, and two goals in two minutes from Achraf Hakimi and Warren Zaire-Emery took the scoreline to 5-0. Kang-In Lee’s strike in the 82nd minute was the cherry on the cake.

PSG Universal brings you three takeaways for Luis Enrique from the team’s latest result.

1. Joao Neves is here to stay

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It has been less than a month since Joao Neves signed for Paris Saint-Germain from Benfica in a deal worth €60 million. Just two games into his stint at the club, however, he has already established himself as one of the team’s most influential players.

Coming off the bench in the team’s Ligue 1 curtain raiser against Le Havre, the midfield protege racked up two assists in 45 minutes, showing great awareness of his role.

Last night only saw him take his powers to greater levels as he was granted a place in Luis Enrique’s starting lineup against Montpellier.

In just the fourth minute of the game, Neves found a wonderful touch to release Bradley Barcola’s vicious run in the final third, helping him take a shot and slot it into the back of the net.

Just 20 minutes later, he once again showed great awareness to pick Marco Asensio in the box for a simple finish and doubled his assist tally.

With four assists in two games, the new signing has started life in France with a bang and looks set for greater things to come.

Achraf Hakimi rules the wing

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If Neves ruled the midfield against Montpellier, Achraf Hakimi exhibited similar dominance down the right flank as he made it his own.

Starting as the right-back, the defender was a constant menace to Falaye Sacko in the final third, and he continually pressed forward and pushed high to build up numbers in attack.

He was rewarded for his incessant efforts with a well-worked goal close to the hour mark after Nuno Mendes switched the play with a great pass.

Hakimi’s night only got better in the 82nd minute when he earned an assist for Kang-In Lee’s strike from outside the box.

With four key passes, ten defensive actions, one big chance created, and two goal contributions, the 25-year-old once again demonstrated why he is one of the best in the business.

A dynamic forward line

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PSG have had some of football’s biggest names grace the team in recent years, from Lionel Messi to Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe.

None of the three aforementioned stars are at the club now, but there is something special brewing in the Parisiens’ forward line that is there for the world to see.

While Luis Enrique may not have any big names in the attack, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and Marco Asensio are all clicking well together as a unit and look more threatening than ever before.

Dembele, who started on the wing, wreaked havoc down Montpellier’s right flank with his pace and trickery.

He accumulated three key passes to his name, created a staggering three big chances, and had one shot blocked on the night. Barcola, starting on the other flank, only outdid Dembele with his output.

The young Frenchman earned two goals from tight positions and regularly combined with Joao Neves, looking to unlock Montpellier’s high line.

With two dynamic wingers on either side playing out wide, Marco Asensio retained control in the central attacking area and served not only as a target-man but a fox in the box.

His lone goal on the night came off a Neves assist, but there was a lot more to his game beyond the goal itself. After all, he recorded two key passes, completed 95% of his passes, had two shots blocked, and completed 50% of his long balls.