Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

Dani Alves’ stunning free-kick inspires PSG to win over Monaco

Sport360 staff

20:57 30/07/2017

Dani Alves had a dream competitive debut as Paris St Germain beat Monaco 2-1 to win French football’s Trophee des Champions curtain-raiser for the fifth successive year.

The former Barcelona veteran joined PSG this summer after a one-season stop at Juventus and showed he remains a match-winner at the age of 34.

PSG trailed to Djibril Sidibe’s smooth finish on the half-hour mark when Alves changed the course of the contest inside the space of 12 second-half minutes.

First he stepped up after 51 minutes to crash home an unstoppable 25-yard free-kick which left Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic rooted to the spot.

PSG had started the second period well and their superiority was further rewarded when Alves delivered an excellent cross for Adrien Rabiot to head home.

Monaco pair Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar, both strongly linked with moves away this summer, started for the Ligue 1 champions against the Coupe de France winners in the Moroccan city of Tangier.

The pair were influential in the early exchanges with Arsenal target Lemar firing over inside 30 seconds when well placed.

Lemar soon set up Mbappe, but the coveted 18-year-old was rightly ruled offside after slotting the ball past PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

But Monaco went ahead when summer signing Youri Tielemans freed Sidibe and the France international kept his composure to chip the ball over the advancing Areola.

More from european

Adrian Lee’s ONE Championship debut confirmed as he looks to further family legacy

NBA 3X ABU DHABI an unparalleled success with legends LaMarcus Aldridge and James Worthy in attendance

ONE Friday Fights 59: French-Algerian looks to maintain KO momentum in headliner

New ONE Championship king Alexis Nicolas ready to fight ‘the world’

French-Algerian Alexis Nicolas reflects on becoming ONE Championship world champ

Tickets on sale for Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships to be held at Mubadala Arena

Most Popular