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Angel Di Maria finally took to the pitch for French champions Paris Saint-Germain against Monaco since moving in the summer from Manchester United. The Parisians registered their 4th win in the same number of games in a typically immaculate start to the season for them. Their new signing was on song and looked to be fitting in well as he moved the ball around well and was always on the lookout for the incisive pass, finding it on a couple of occasions, one of which his Argentine team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi converted.
Laurent Blanc’s side emerged 3-0 winners on the night with Edinson Cavani scoring a brace. The Parisians’ record in the French League is similar to Manchester City’s record in the Premier League so far, identical in terms of goals conceded as both teams boast a defence that is unbeaten yet, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and co have scored 12 goals as compared to the Sky Blues’ 9.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger did not start the game but came on in the second half for 24 minutes and had an impact on the game in a big way at the Stade Louis II. He replaced Lucas Moura and immediately after coming on created a chance for the Uruguayan striker Cavani who should have buried his header in the back of the net given the space he was afforded to take on the chance but was unable to convert.
But Angel di Maria was not to be deterred, he made the most of his little time on the pitch, he was involved in all of PSG’s forays forward. He played mostly from the right wing, crossing in or cutting back rather than drifting in as he was required to do. However, his defining moment of the game came when he wandered deep to play a ball over the top for another substitute Lavezzi who replace Zlatan just minutes earlier, the former Napoli striker took the ball in his stride and slammed it past the keeper to ensure that Di Maria registered an assist.
The amount of time Di Maria spent on the pitch was too little to determine if his spell in France will be a defining one, but the signs for a great partnership between club and player are all there.
Di Maria’s individual PSG debut highlights:
