Two own-goals secure PSG victory over Lyon

Both sides were unbeaten in their first five games before the match on Sunday night but it was PSG who continued their perfect start to the season, thanks to two second-half own-goals.

During the first half of the game, guilt-edged chances were at a premium as Lyon did well to neutralise the lethal and expensively-assembled front three of PSG.

The first effort on goal fell to the visitors, as Memphis Depay cut inside onto his left foot and forced Alphonse Areola into a save.

Neymar was very close to giving his side the lead directly from a corner but Anthony Lopes just reacted quickly enough to claw the ball away at his near post.

Blockbuster summer signings Mbappe and Neymar were being kept out well by the visitors but the young Frenchman was presented with a great opportunity to open the scoring after 36 minutes.

Neymar found some space on the right-hand side of the box and cut the ball back towards Mbappe, but the French teenager missed the ball and Lyon were able to clear.

Dani Alves then attacked down the right-hand side and crossed for Cavani, but the Uruguayan directed his header wide of the post on his first opportunity of the game.

Brazilian world-record man Neymar went close towards the end of the half when his effort from the edge of the box stung the palms of Lopes in the Lyon goal, but the sides went in level at the break, with neither team able to break the deadlock.

At the start of the second half, Nabil Fekir had the first opening as he came in from the right-hand side and saw his near-post effort clawed away by Areola.

Neymar then went close once again with a free-kick which was expertly kept out by Lopes in the Lyon goal.

Lyon refused to be intimidated by the high-spending Parisian side and came within inches of taking the lead after 66 minutes. A header from Lucas Tousart was cleared off the line from a corner before a long range effort from Tanguy Dembele crashed against the crossbar with Areola beaten.

However, it was the home side who found the breakthrough, slightly against the run of play, on the 74-minute mark. Giovani Lo Celso, who had just come off the bench, did well to find himself some space on the left, before crossing into the box. Cavani met the low cross with a neat flick which was deflected into the corner of the goal by Lyon defender Marcelo. Cavani claimed the goal but it looked to be going wide before the vital deflection.

Just minutes later, Cavani had a chance to score a goal of his own from the penalty spot when Mbappe was dragged down by Ferland Mendy inside the box. Despite Neymar's protestations, Cavani stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Lopes reacted brilliantly to direct the penalty onto the crossbar before catching the ball.

Lopes' heroics were relatively short lived, however, as PSG were able to double their lead in the 86th minute. Neymar threaded the ball through for Mbappe who advanced goalwards, and saw his shot saved by Lopes but deflected straight back into the goal off Jeremy Morel. Mbappe wheeled away in celebration but there was no doubt that the last touch came, once again, off a Lyon player.

Bertrand Traore had a chance to reduce the deficit in stoppage time after good work from Fekir, but his shot from inside the box went straight to Areola.

This victory for PSG was much less convincing than their previous ones, with Neymar and Mbappe both neutralised well by the Lyon defence, but they got that bit of luck which ensured that they start this Ligue 1 season with six straight victories.

Lyon can take plenty of positives from their performance, despite suffering their first loss of the season. They deservedly held on for 75 minutes and kept out Mbappe and Neymar, something which few teams have managed so far this season, and on another day could have drawn or even won the game if lady luck was on their side.