Kylian Mbappe showcased his excellent form once again as Paris St Germain initiated their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Borussia Dortmund at home on Tuesday, offering a glimpse of their potential under their new coach, Luis Enrique.
Mbappe broke the deadlock with a second-half penalty, while Achraf Hakimi added to the score with a splendid goal, rewarding PSG's patience at the Parc des Princes.
This victory, their third in six competitive matches this season, brought much-needed relief to the Ligue 1 champions after their recent defeat. They adhered diligently to Enrique's possession-based style of play.
PSG leads Group F with three points, two ahead of AC Milan and Newcastle United, who played to a goalless draw earlier on Tuesday.
Man of the match, Vitinha, expressed the significance of commencing the campaign with a victory, stating, "It was important to start this campaign with a win."
Enrique commented on the match, saying, "What pleased me the most? Our consistency. It was evident that we maintained a high level throughout the entire game. We outperformed our opponents for the entirety of the match. The key was to be proactive and create scoring opportunities. Our possession helped us secure the win."
Although PSG didn't exhibit extraordinary brilliance, their dominance in midfield ensured they were rarely in danger. The turning point came when Mbappe calmly converted a penalty four minutes into the second half.
Dortmund had the initial clear opportunity when Donyell Malen found space in the PSG area, but his shot was easily saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG responded five minutes later when Vitinha, who controlled the midfield in the first half, struck the woodwork with a fine shot from just outside the box. He had another chance after half an hour, but his attempt was deflected over the bar.
PSG lacked a cutting edge until early in the second half when Ousmane Dembele, in a combination with fullback Hakimi on the right flank, found Mbappe in the area. Mbappe's shot was handled by Niklas Suele, resulting in a penalty in the 49th minute, which he successfully converted for his 11th goal in his last nine Champions League appearances.
In the 58th minute, Hakimi increased the lead with a delicate chip using the outside of his boot, thanks to an excellent setup by Vitinha following precise passing.
PSG maintained control in the final 30 minutes and secured a clean sheet as Borussia failed to pose a threat.