This is how perfection works: how PSG managed to start life without Kylian Mbappe

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Bradley Barcola excelled in his first few weeks at PSG

It is practically impossible to replace Mbappe one-on-one due to his outstanding abilities. PSG are clearly aware of this, as no replacement for the French national team captain was signed this summer. Rather, the aim is to absorb the loss collectively – but one individual actor, Barcola, has played a major role so far.

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The 22-year-old, who arrived from Olympique Lyon in 2023 for 45 million euros, has scored four goals in 155 minutes of action so far this season. In particular, Barcola’s goal in the 4-1 win at Le Havre on the league debut was very reminiscent of Mbappe: from the left, surrounded by several opponents, he rushed in with a quick hook to the corner of the penalty area and hit the ball into the far corner without stopping. The movement sequence, the liveliness, the quick steps and the dynamic ball handling – much of this goal could have come from Mbappe.

Barcola, like Dembele, had come on as a substitute shortly before his goal, and in the next two games the two formed the Paris offensive together with Asensio. Apart from Barcola’s three other goals (two against Montpellier, one against Lille), what was particularly striking was his passionate defensive work – especially compared to Mbappe – which Enrique also publicly highlighted. Its epitome: Barcola won the ball in his own half against Montpellier, after which he himself started the counterattack, which eventually resulted in an Asensio goal.

“I think we didn’t see one star today, but 16 stars who fought for PSG,” Enrique said after the 6-0 win against Montpellier. At times, Mbappe took another swipe. “16 stars on attack, 16 stars on defence. That’s how perfection works,” the PSG coach delighted.