Midway through the second half, Vitinha broke the deadlock with a shot that deflected off Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem, outwitting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.
The goal, scored in the 67th minute, came from a well-executed corner involving substitutes Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes. PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, praised the team’s control, stating, “We deserved the three points. We were in control throughout, even playing away.”
Following their UEFA Super Cup victory against Tottenham Hotspur, Luis Enrique made seven changes to the starting lineup. New signings Illia Zabarnyi, a Ukrainian defender from Bournemouth, and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille, debuted impressively. Enrique highlighted Zabarnyi’s fit, noting, “His physical and technical abilities are perfect for our style. He’s comfortable on the ball and strong in duels.”
Despite limited pre-season preparation due to their Club World Cup final run in mid-July, PSG showed resilience. Key players like Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia started on the bench but made significant contributions when introduced.
Pour son premier match de la saison 2025-2026 de Ligue 1, le PSG, largement remanié, l'a emporté face au FC Nantes à la Beaujoire (1-0). Vitinha a donné la victoire à son équipe d'une frappe déviée. https://t.co/ST8AiUtCU2 pic.twitter.com/frAY40maLU
— L'Équipe (@lequipe) August 17, 2025Nantes, under new coach Luis Castro, defended deeply, making it tough for PSG to create chances early on. Enrique acknowledged the team’s lack of pre-season friendlies, saying, “We’ll look more comfortable with the ball after a few more games.” Despite an offside call disallowing a Goncalo Ramos goal and a near miss from Bradley Barcola, one goal proved sufficient.
PSG’s next match is against Angers at home on Friday, where they aim to build momentum in their title defence.
Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud marked his Ligue 1 return with a goal for Lille in a 3-3 draw against Brest. The 2018 World Cup winner expressed delight, saying, “It’s a real pleasure to be back in Ligue 1.” Angers secured a 1-0 win over Paris FC, while Strasbourg and Auxerre also claimed victories. Monaco emerged as early league leaders after a 3-1 win over Le Havre.
