THE MATCH

Neymar had enjoyed an impressive pre-season, and the Brazil international scored the opener and set up the other two in a spell-binding first 45 minutes of Galtier's reign as PSG coach that took the game away from Clermont, even without the injured Kylian Mbappé.

The hosts, who barely escaped relegation last season in what was their first-ever top-flight campaign, were never really in the match as Neymar drilled home the opener with just nine minutes on the clock.

Vitinha — the only one of PSG's four summer recruits in the starting line-up — then fired wide (17') before Neymar teed up Achraf Hakimi for the visitors' second goal. Maxime Gonalons was brought in by Clermont to provide experience in midfield, but he carelessly lost possession, and after Messi had found Neymar, his diagonal ball into the path of Hakimi was stride-perfect. The rampaging full-back then smashed a high shot beyond Mory Diaw (26').

Diaw was making his Ligue 1 Uber Eats debut aged 29 having come to Clermont this summer after being let go by PSG in 2015 and dropping as low as the Swiss fourth division. He brilliantly kept out a Sergio Ramos header (29') and then denied Nuno Mendes (37') before his defenders allowed Marquinhos a free run at a Neymar free-kick, and the PSG captain powered a header into the net(39').

But for another Diaw save from Messi (45+1') Clermont would have equalled their unenviable record of having conceded at least four times to PSG — as they had done in each of the duo's previous three meetings — before half-time.

Seemingly sated by their first-half glut, PSG stepped off the gas a little after the break, and Clermont had their first sight of goal: new signing Komnen Andric swivelled and fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box (52').

The better opportunities still came at the opposite end though. Presnel Kimpembe wasted a good chance (54') and Nuno Mendes failed to take another (76') before PSG stepped up a gear again. After Clermont had surrendered possession just inside the visitors' half, Messi led the counter-attack, and having teed up Neymar for a shot, happily rolled the ball into the far corner of the net after the Brazilian had caught everyone off guard by passing it back to him (80').

The Argentina international then produced a brilliant overhead kick after chesting up Leandro Paredes' chipped through ball (86') to make it five and give the defending French champions an emphatic start to their title defence.

THE PLAYER: Neymar

After having a hand in three of his team's four Trophée des Champions goals, the Brazil international scored one and set up three of PSG's five here. His work rate also stood out as he teamed up promisingly with Messi.

THE STAT: 50

This is Paris Saint-Germain's 50th Ligue 1 Uber Eats season.

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