PARIS (AP) — Striker Kylian Mbappé continued his scoring spree and right back Achraf Hakimi also found the net as Paris Saint-Germain opened its Champions League campaign with a 2-0 home win against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
Mbappé’s penalty put PSG ahead in the 49th minute following a video review. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano stuck to his decision and ruled that defender Niklas Süle handled the ball from Mbappé’s shot.
The France striker stroked the ball into the bottom left corner and just out of the reach of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for his eighth goal in five games this season.
Nine minutes later, Kobel was beaten from close range when Hakimi swapped passes with midfielder Vitinha and cut inside a defender before curling the ball into the bottom left corner with the outside of his right foot.
In the other Group F game, seven-time European champion AC Milan wasted chances in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
PSG, which has never won the competition, played last season with superstar Lionel Messi and Neymar in attack, yet went out in the last 16 for the second straight season.
Messi and Neymar have left, leaving only Mbappé from that attack. He has been joined by forward Randal Kolo Muani, who started his first game since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for 95 million euros ($103 million). Kolo Muani played at center forward and was flanked by former Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé at Parc des Princes.
A tight opening saw Dutch forward Donyell Malen have a shot comfortably saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Vitinha hit the post in the 19th. Kolo Muani’s low strike was saved near the end of a drab first half.
PSG stepped things up after the break.
Dembélé’s cross from the right found Mbappé, whose snapshot clipped Süle’s arm as he was falling down and the spot kick was awarded despite Dortmund’s protests.
Both clubs have made a shaky start to their league campaigns. PSG is fifth after losing at home to Nice last Friday and Dortmund is seventh. PSG’s vulnerability to quick counterattacks was ruthlessly exposed by Nice.
This was a more composed performance, although coach Edin Terzić’s Dortmund side offered very little in attack.
PSG plays at Newcastle and Dortmund hosts Milan on Oct. 4.
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