This Saturday, during the first matchday of the 2025-2026 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain faced Olympique Lyonnais at Groupama Stadium. After a match where the Red and Blue are clearly struggling at the moment, thanks to Joao Neves, they managed a last-gasp 3-2 victory. Here are our player ratings for the Parisians.
Goalkeeper –
Lucas Chevalier (3) – No major errors, but too few decisive saves. He hasn’t yet provided any added value or composure in the Parisian goal.
Defenders –
Warren Zaïre-Emery (6) – In his backup role, there were good and bad moments. Caught late on Lyon’s first goal, he paid the price for his inexperience in this position. On the other hand, he scored a goal with a “Hakimi-esque” run and a beautiful finish. He had a decent game.
Ilya Zabarnyi (4) – He wasn’t convincing. He didn’t exude composure in his interventions. He’s struggling to adapt to PSG.
Willian Pacho (5) – A solid match from him, but nothing spectacular.
Lucas Hernandez (5) – He’s back to his best. That will help with Nuno Mendes’ absence. Substituted in the 73rd minute by Marquinhos.
Midfielders –
Joao Neves (6) – Always intelligent in his positioning, but still a far cry from the Neves of the end of last season. However, he never gave up, and his second half was better; he even scored the decisive goal, again with his head.
Vitinha (6) – A metronome, he’s also the one who calms things down. The captain for the evening was a joy to watch. He was involved in both of PSG’s first-half goals.
Fabian Ruiz (3) – He didn’t shine. He’s still finding his feet after his recent return to the pitch. He’s searching for rhythm and understanding with his current teammates. With less attacking flair, he struggles to link up. Substituted in the 73rd minute by Gonçalo Ramos.
Forwards –
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (4) – His goal doesn’t mask his difficult match. He was still decisive, which salvaged his performance, but he struggled and lacked inspiration. Substituted by Ibrahim Mbaye in the 73rd minute.
Senny Mayulu (4) – A forgettable match. Substituted in the 67th minute by Quentin Ndjantou.
Lee Kang-in (5) – Close to being PSG’s best player in the match. He was effective in bursts.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (4) – You can tell he’s struggling to make decisions. He talked about resilience, which shows he’s aware of the significant gaps in his squad due to injuries. He might be paying the price for a relatively quiet transfer window given the number of matches still to play.
