PSG’s post-galactico era begins with a last-gasp win thanks to Girona goalkeeper’s blunder

By JEROME PUGMIRE The Associated Press
PSG players celebrate after a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Christophe Ena]

PARIS (AP) — It took a huge blunder to gift Paris Saint-Germain victory in the first Champions League match of its post-galactico era. PSG scraped a 1-0 home win over tournament newcomer Girona with a stoppage-time winner after goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga let a left-wing cross from Nuno Mendes trickle under his hands and through his legs. For the first time in more than a decade PSG began its Champions League campaign without at least one star player, known as a “galactico.” After Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi left without winning Europe’s elite club competition PSG started this campaign with a new identity. It was far from convincing.

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