PSG saw off Chartres 35-26 in the Starligue on Saturday, extending their perfect start to the campaign with three wins from three. The hosts remained in second place on six points, while Chartres stayed down in fourteenth with just two points from three games.
It was a straightforward affair in Paris, with the home side controlling the tempo from the outset. By then, the gap between the two sides had become clear — PSG were comfortable, Chartres were chasing shadows. The academy graduate who started on the left wing marked his first appearance with a steady contribution, though the final scoreline was always going to be decided by the experienced players.
We had backed the home side at 68 per cent confidence, and the result confirmed that reading. PSG simply had too much quality for a Chartres side that had drawn twice already this season. To be fair, the visitors had shown resilience against Treble earlier, but against the league leaders' form, that approach did not hold up.
Chartres' form has been uneven — a 43-27 win over Cherbourg in August followed by a heavy 41-22 defeat to Montpellier. Against PSG, the pattern continued, with the visitors unable to match the intensity in the opening exchanges. They gave up too many cheap fouls in the midfield, and PSG took advantage with quick transitions.
The result keeps PSG within touching distance of the top spot, though they will need to maintain this level. Chartres face a difficult run ahead, and the points gap to safety remains a concern. They will need to find consistency if they want to climb out of the bottom half.
