No Messi or Neymar? No Prob as Mbappé & Co Key PSG Victory

This is the sorta effort that'll enable Paris-St Germain to storm its way through Ligue 1 and claim the title.

But it's also the sorta performance that'll see them get knocked out along the way in the Champions League playoffs.

PSG emerged from its journey to Brittany with a 2-4 result over a Brest side still trying to reclaim its stature as a competitve opponent after two seasons in the wilderness.

But really.

 

Les Rouges et Bleus have signed enough internationals to form their own division of the French Foreign Legion, but somehow, they've got some challenges ahead to control their own end of the pitch.

The club gave mega-stars Lionel Messi and Neymar another week to revitalize after their extended run in the Copa América. This was a luxury they could afford, as PSG's firepower is not in question.

However, dudes coulda used the tandem of Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos to anchor a back four that spent most of the match being adrift.

 

Maybe so, but defending against Les Pirates in their current incarnation shouldn't be something that'd have manager Mauricio Pochettino often looking skyward, possibly in hopes of some sorta divine intervention.

Their back end is thin, and the likes of a Lyon could well be reviewing this game video and looking forward to their foray into the Stade de France for their shot.

Or shots.

 

In the meantime, he's got to be pleased with how his crew peppered the Pirate goal.

Scoring strikes by Ander Herrera, Kylian Mbappé, Idrissa Gueye, and substitute Ángel di María were the value element of PSG's 8 shots on target of the 16 they launched, and they were just enough to keep a dogged Brest squad from gaining a point.

As di María's lob to nirvana came just before time, the Pirates' quest was that close to being fulfilled:

 

PSG is now perfect after three matches, but surrendering five goals in the early going remains as the takeaway.

Actually, that stat's more like a red flag that bears watching.

For all this side's acquired glory and its stated goal that nothing matters more than lifting the Champions League trophy, dudes still have something to sort out before their chances to win it are well and truly fancied.