Paris Saint-Germain beats Le Mans to secure third straight Ligue 1 win

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Le Mans three to one at the Parc des Princes to claim their third consecutive Ligue 1 victory. Lucas Beraldo put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the nineteenth minute after Harold Voyer handled the ball. Louis Mafouta leveled for the visitors in the fifty-fourth minute by converting a low cross from Lucas Calodat after a video review overturned an offside call. Head coach Luis Enrique made nine changes to his starting lineup with a Wednesday Champions League fixture against Manchester City approaching.

Second Half Decides Match

Substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia restored the lead for the reigning French and European champions by firing in a loose ball after goalkeeper Nicolas Kocik parried a shot from Fabian Ruiz. Maghnes Akliouche then added a third goal seven minutes later with a low shot into the bottom corner, marking his first score for the club since arriving from Monaco over the summer. According to Morocco World News, Morocco international Achraf Hakimi returned to the PSG squad for this match after recovering from a recent thigh injury.

Late Penalty Drama

Referee Mathieu Vernice awarded a late penalty when Lucas Hernandez was pulled down by an opponent, but Désiré Doué had his spot-kick saved by Kocik. The hosts immediately received another penalty when Vitinha went down, though that decision was reversed after a video check showed an encroachment. PSG earned just two points from their first three matches of the campaign before turning their form around prior to the international break.

Context

Paris Saint-Germain competes in Ligue 1 as one of the top clubs in French and European football, regularly balancing domestic league fixtures with high-profile continental matches. Newly promoted sides like Le Mans often face a steep challenge when competing against established champions. Squad rotation is a common strategy for major clubs managing tight schedules across multiple tournaments.