MONTREAL: Paris St Germain started the new season on Saturday just as they ended the old, lifting silverware in the shape of the Trophee des Champions for the third straight year thanks to a 2-0 win over Olympique Lyon in Montreal.

PSG, who achieved a domestic treble last season, put on a clinical display as two early goals by Serge Aurier and Edinson Cavani put them in control of the traditional dress rehearsal for Ligue 1, which starts next weekend, and left Lyon with a mountain to climb long before their captain Maxime Gonalons was sent off in the 64th minute.

Full-back Aurier headed the first goal after Lyon defenders failed to clear a free kick in the 11th minute and Uruguay striker Cavani scored from close range seven minutes later after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and the win underlined PSG’s status as the team to beat again in the coming campaign.

Tipped to be their main challengers once more, Lyon were invited to face the treble winners after finishing second to them in Ligue 1 last season as the Trophee des Champions was played outside France for the seventh year in a row.

But, weakened by a series of injuries to key players and by the absence of suspended starlet Nabil Fekir, Lyon never looked like winning a game played in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Stade Saputo in the largest city of Canada’s French-speaking Quebec province.

The two teams prepared for the game in contrasting fashion. Lyon had lost five out of six friendlies, including a 6-0 hammering by Arsenal in the Emirates Cup, while PSG beat Manchester United, Fiorentina and Benfica to win the North American edition of the International Champions Cup.

“The mood in the camp is good. It is early days but we have prepared well,” PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi told beIN Sports. “The season will be long. Now we have spent 18 days abroad and it is difficult, so we are looking forward to going home, seeing our families again and resting before the season starts.”

Laurent Blanc’s PSG side start their title defence at Lille on Friday, while Lyon will begin the new Ligue 1 season at home to Lorient next Sunday.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play