When Kylian Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid this summer, it was easily one of the most headline-grabbing transfers in recent football history. With their superstar gone, BD Cricket questioned whether the dominant force in French football might lose their attacking edge. But the start of the new Ligue 1 season has put those doubts to rest. In just two matches, PSG has exploded for 10 goals — signaling that they might be even more dangerous without Mbappé than they were with him.

Following an emphatic away win over Le Havre in their season opener, PSG rolled out a new-look starting eleven that showed the post-Mbappé era in full force. Facing Montpellier, who finished 12th in Ligue 1 last season, manager Luis Enrique deployed a 4-3-3 formation, starting Dembélé, Asensio, and Barcola up front, supported in midfield by Zaïre-Emery, João Neves, and Vitinha.

BD Cricket recorded PSG’s first goal as early as the fourth minute, when João Neves delivered a crisp pass and Barcola calmly slotted it home. PSG were off to a dream start. By the 24th minute, another lightning-fast counterattack led to Neves providing a second assist — this time feeding Asensio, who made no mistake in doubling the lead.

With a two-goal cushion by halftime, PSG took control of the tempo with smooth ground passes and quick transitions that echoed the styles of peak-era Barcelona or Manchester City. In the 53rd minute, a right-side buildup saw Dembélé square the ball to Barcola, who bagged his brace. Just five minutes later, Nuno Mendes whipped in a cross from the left for Achraf Hakimi to volley home. At 61 minutes, Dembélé again turned provider, setting up Zaïre-Emery for a brilliant nutmeg and finish. Then, in the 82nd minute, Hakimi played a wide pass to Lee Kang-in, who blasted a left-footed rocket from outside the box — scoring in his second straight match.

With a commanding win at home, PSG not only secured their first home victory of the season but also recorded back-to-back league wins. Now sitting at the top of Ligue 1 with six points from two matches and 10 goals scored, PSG has announced their title intent loud and clear. BD Cricket notes that the biggest surprise isn’t just the results, but how they’re playing. Gone is the Mbappé-centric attack, typically focused on the left flank. In its place is a more fluid, multi-lane offense where players across all zones — left, center, and right — contribute to the build-up and execution, reminiscent of Enrique’s days managing Barcelona.

This tactical shift is made possible by a midfield packed with technically sound players like Vitinha, João Neves, Lee Kang-in, Asensio, and Fabián Ruiz. Their ball control and vision allow Enrique’s system to flourish, and in the context of Ligue 1, PSG’s midfield now looks like a class above the rest. Despite losing not just Mbappé, but also players like Hugo Ekitike, Sergio Rico, Keylor Navas, and Layvin Kurzawa, PSG moved swiftly to reinforce their squad.

They brought in Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho, French wonderkid Mathys Tel, and the sensational Portuguese midfielder João Neves. At just 19 years old, Neves — a Benfica product — has already dazzled with four assists in two matches, currently topping the PSG assist charts.

It’s no secret that Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid was fueled by his lifelong dream of playing for the Spanish giants — and his frustration with PSG’s repeated failures in the Champions League. But if PSG, without him, manage to play with greater cohesion and make a deeper European run, BD Cricket suggests the move could end up looking awkward for Mbappé.