(Reuters) – Paris St Germain’s 3-1 win at Lille in Ligue 1 on Sunday was a good test ahead the Champions League, coach Luis Enrique said, as their opponents will also feature in Europe’s elite club competition starting later this month.
Goals from Vitinha, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani earned French champions PSG their third win in three league games this season against feisty Lille.
However, they side are already looking ahead to their Champions League opener on Sept. 18 against Spanish side Girona.
Lille face Portugal’s Sporting a day earlier in their first Champions League game since the 2021-22 season as they secured their spot in the competition through last month’s playoffs.
“It was an away game against a team who play in the Champions League, who already played several games and have a very different rhythm to us,” Enrique told reporters.
“It was a very good test for us, it was a Champions League match for us. I’m pretty happy with the team’s performance.”
PSG and Lille are among the clubs preparing for a revamped Champions League format extended to 36 teams playing eight fixtures in the first round or league phase.
Enrique’s side will have another test in Ligue 1 after the international break when they host Brest, also playing in the Champions League, four days before they begin their quest for a long-awaited maiden European title.
“There’s the match against Brest after the break and that will have nothing to do with the Champions League and its new format. I can’t know what that will be like,” the Spanish manager said.
“My team is showing signs of confidence but we still lack physical rhythm in several of our players. The Champions League is very different and full of new things.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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