Kylian Mbappe’s first-half strike helped lift 10-man Paris St Germain to a 2-0 victory at Le Havre after Gianluigi Donnarumma was sent off 10 minutes into the Ligue 1 contest.
2023/2024 Ligue 1
0-2
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' Soler makes goal-line clearance
10' Red Card! Donnarumma sent off
20' Mbappe's shot stopped by goalkeeper
23' GOAL! Le Havre 0-1 PSG (Mbappe)
32' OFFSIDE! Mbappe’s goal disallowed
42' Casimir's shot wide out
49' Mbappe's shot wide out
51' Tenas makes good chance
59' Dembele hits the bar
65' Tenas makes good save
78' Tenas makes brilliant double-save
89' GOAL! Le Havre 0-2 PSG (Vitinha)
Match Report
Hosts Le Havre at times came close to an equaliser, but instead saw their five-game unbeaten streak snapped while making it five games in six without a goal.
Vitinha netted against the run of play in the 89th minute to seal the result for PSG, who have now won seven consecutive league matches for the first time since September 2021.
FULL-TIME: Le Havre 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
The 10-man Parisiens secure all three points! (0-2)
@KMbappe @vitinha#HACPSG | #Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/qAPsHFUQgn
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 3, 2023
The result gave the league leaders a boost after Tuesday’s disappointing Champions League draw against Newcastle, with the Parisians now four points ahead of second-placed Nice.
Le Havre wasted a golden chance after the ball pinged around the 18-yard box before landing at the feet of Gautier Lloris, who would have netted an opener but for the quick reaction of Carlos Soler to clear off the line.
Then goalkeeper Donnarumma, already under scrutiny, completely misjudged a challenge on Josue Casimir and immediately saw red for a high boot.
On came Arnau Tenas to make his PSG debut, replacing forward Bradley Barcola, who boss Luis Enrique decided would be the necessary sacrifice.
Vitinha in action for Paris St Germain
The visitors would not be pinned back and Mbappe was first denied by a good save by Arthur Desmas with a left-footed effort but made no mistake with his second attempt, firing through three blue shirts from centre before the ball clipped the inside of the post and crossed in for a 23rd-minute opener.
Mbappe had the ball in the back of the net again before the break but the offside flag was raised, while Casimir could only watch agonisingly on when what should have been an equaliser sailed just wide of the post after finding himself in space inside the area.
Le Havre, desperate get something out of the man advantage, applied more pressure to begin the second half as Yassine Kechta forced Tenas to tip the ball over the crossbar, while Mohamed Bayo sent a weak effort into the arms of the replacement PSG goalkeeper.
Ousmane Dembele nearly doubled the Parisians’ advantage, his effort clipping the edge of the post before going wide, before Tenas saved Danilo Pereira from scoring an own goal after Bayo’s attempt took a deflection off the PSG defender.
MBAPPÉ VS LE HAVRE
41 touches 1 goal 1 key pass 18/24 accurate passes 5 successful dribbles 5 duels won
@SofascoreINT pic.twitter.com/kBQpkTLuo3
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 3, 2023
Pereira would soon prevent substitute Nabil Alioui a chance at levelling, while the hosts showed off their own defensive prowess when Christopher Operi prevented a threatening Dembele from getting a decent shot away.
Alioui skied an effort then twice-tested Tenas, who was quick to react at his near post as the hosts desperately searched for an equaliser, Antoine Joujou side-footing the ball past the post before Alioui tried again.
But there was no coming back after Vitinha’s strike took a deflection off Lloris and in to cap off a disappointing ending to a once-promising afternoon for the hosts.
Line-ups
Le Havre XI: Loïc Nego, A.Touré, Kuzyaev, Arthur Desmas, G.Lloris, Christopher Operi, Mohamed Bayo, Josué Casimir, Arouna Sangante, Yassine Kechta, Étienne Youté Kinkoué
Subs: El Hajjam, Nolan Mbemba, Grandsir, Salmier, Emmanuel Sabbi, Rassoul Ndiaye, Nabil Alioui, Mohamed Koné, Antoine Joujou
PSG XI: Danilo Pereira, Dembele, Mukiele, Fabian Ruiz, Mbappe, Donnarumma, Soler, Hakimi, Kang-in Lee, Vitinha, Bradley Barcola
Subs: Kurzawa, Skriniar, Lucas, Asensio, Manuel Ugarte, Muani, Arnau Tenas, Gonçalo Ramos, Cher Ndour