Paris Saint-Germain continued their fine pre-season form by capturing the French Super Cup in Montreal on Saturday, as they convincingly beat Lyon 2-0.
Goals from Serge Aurier and Edinson Cavani were enough on the night, as the capital city superclub boldly marched toward the new campaign with a confident performance.
PSG started the match in their preferred 4-3-3 formation, with both Cavani and Lucas Moura supporting Zlatan 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 Ibra found plenty of space in which to operate.
And PSG made it count, stealing into an early 11th-minute lead through the most simple of headed finishes by Aurier. A set piece pinballed around the Lyon penalty box, landing at the feet of PSG centre-back David Luiz, whose cross was converted by the full-back.
Paris No Limit captured the moment on social media:
Paris Saint-Germain continued their fine pre-season form by capturing the French Super Cup in Montreal on Saturday, as they convincingly beat Lyon 2-0.
Goals from Serge Aurier and Edinson Cavani were enough on the night, as the capital city superclub boldly marched toward the new campaign with a confident performance.
PSG started the match in their preferred 4-3-3 formation, with both Cavani and Lucas Moura supporting Zlatan 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 Ibra found plenty of space in which to operate.
And PSG made it count, stealing into an early 11th-minute lead through the most simple of headed finishes by Aurier. A set piece pinballed around the Lyon penalty box, landing at the feet of PSG centre-back David Luiz, whose cross was converted by the full-back.
Paris No Limit captured the moment on social media:
The Parisians soon doubled their lead just six minutes later as 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.
With Cavani advanced in the front three, PSG used Ibra as the central point of focus, 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 as he burst 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 his effort just wide of Lopes' goal—and the writing was very much on the wall for Lyon.
Things got worse for Les Gones just after the hour mark, as French international Maxime Gonalons saw red for a second bookable offence.
Ibra 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 Champions was deservedly theirs.
Lyon are miles away from the quality that 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 expected arrival of Angel Di Maria materialises, per Sky Sports, PSG will be nearly unstoppable in French football.
Di Maria's quality to assist will see Ibra become even more dangerous, with the Argentinian's pace and creativity being too much for most of the French league's defences.
