PSG labours to beat Le Mans 3-1 after Luis Enrique calls on his stars

Paris Saint-Germain claimed its first home victory of the Ligue 1 season on Sunday, beating promoted Le Mans 3-1 at the Parc des Princes. It was far from straightforward: Luis Enrique made sweeping changes to keep his key players fresh for Wednesday's Champions League visit to Manchester City, but Le Mans' second-half equaliser forced him to call on several of his regulars to settle the contest.

• PSG picked up its first home win after a 1-2 defeat to Monaco and back-to-back away victories.
• Beraldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Mafouta equalised for Le Mans.
• Kvaratskhelia and Akliouche sealed the win shortly after PSG's star players came on.
• The result leaves Luis Enrique's side three points behind leaders Monaco, who were held at home by Toulouse.

Luis Enrique rotates heavily with Manchester City in mind

The Spanish coach left Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes out of the squad entirely to keep them fresh for the European fixture. Vitinha, Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz, Doué and Marquinhos were all named among the substitutes, while Ferran Torres started despite having withdrawn from the Spain squad with an ankle problem.

PSG's second string never really clicked, but the home side went ahead after 20 minutes thanks to VAR intervention. The referee awarded a penalty for handball by Harold Hoyer as Achraf Hakimi tried to get past him, and Lucas Beraldo converted from the spot even though goalkeeper Nicolas Kocik got a touch on the ball.

Le Mans wastes chances before Mafouta's fine equaliser

The champions lacked rhythm and the promoted visitors, far from sitting back, created two clear openings before the break. Louis Mafouta found himself through on goal, but Lucas Hernández and Matvei Safonov combined to deny him. Shortly afterwards, Samuel Yohou latched onto a loose ball and fired against the side netting. Only a Maghnes Akliouche header that Kocik tipped away with a superb save brought PSG close to a second before half-time.

Luis Enrique kept the same eleven after the restart and Hakimi broke clear only for Kocik to deny him again. The punishment arrived on the next attack as Mafouta met Lucas Calodat's cross from the left with a powerful first-time finish to make it 1-1. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the VAR confirmed it in the 54th minute.

Luis Enrique's substitutions turn the game in three minutes

The equaliser drew jeers from the Parc des Princes crowd and the coach responded by making four changes at once, bringing on Vitinha, Kvaratskhelia and Fabián Ruiz among others. The impact was immediate. Three minutes later, Fabián unleashed a fierce drive that Kocik could only parry and Kvaratskhelia reacted quickest to force the ball over the line and restore PSG's lead.

Akliouche seals it with his first Ligue 1 goal

The game was settled in the 68th minute when Akliouche finished off a surging run with a left-footed strike tucked inside the near post. It was his first goal for PSG since joining from Monaco in the summer. Le Mans refused to give up and stuck to their direct approach: Dame Gueye rattled the crossbar after twice turning Lucas Hernández, and Safonov made two saves during an end-to-end closing stretch.

PSG still had chances to extend their lead. The clearest was a penalty won by Vitinha after a foul from Noa Boissé, but Désiré Doué fired it straight at Kocik. The referee then pointed to the spot again for a second foul on the Portuguese midfielder in the follow-up, only for the VAR to overturn the decision because Vitinha had entered the box before the kick was taken.

What the win means for PSG's Ligue 1 campaign

The three points, secured without much sparkle in a modest start to the season, move PSG to within three of leaders Monaco, who slipped up at home with a 2-2 draw against Toulouse. The Parisians have now won three league games in a row and head into Wednesday's meeting with Manchester City in a stronger position as they fight for their Champions League group-stage hopes.