PSG starts Ligue 1 title defense with a Scrappy victory at Nantes

Vitinha broke the impasse with the help of a happy deflection when Paris Saint-Germain started his Ligue 1-title defense with a non-convincing 1-0 win over Nantes on Sunday.

Winner of the Champions League PSG seemed short of ideas, just like it is for long spells against Europa League champion Tottenham during the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday.

Portugal midfielder Vitinha gathered the ball about 20 meters and his strike cut defender Chidozie Awaziem as he tried to dive under the ball, before he goalkeeper Anthony Lopes in the 67th minute.

That turned out to be enough for coach Luis Enrique, who was again without goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italy no. 1 wants to leave PSG after the Lucas Chevalier from Lille has bought and is connected to a move to Manchester City. PSG

A filthy first half saw little creativity, and neither Chevalier or Lopes had a lot to do.

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Nantes -coach Luis Castro can regret that he left his best striker Matthis Abline on the couch until the 60th minute. Abline strives for a step away from Nantes, who looked much sharper when he came up.

The early goal of striker Esteban Lepaul was enough for Angers to win 1-0 at home in newly promoted Paris FC, despite the fact that midfielder Louis Mouton was sent in the 57th.

Striker Lassine Sinayoko scored early in the second half when Auxerre won at home with 1-0 against Lorient, who was promoted as Ligue 2 winner.

Metz started with the 16-year-old prospect Brian Madjo in attack, but gave a late goal in a 1-0 housing loss at Strasbourg. New signature Joaquin Panichelli scored for the visitors.