PSG win at Galatasaray to take control of UCL Group A

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Mauro Icardi scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain as they beat Galatasaray 1-0 away to take control of Champions League Group A on Tuesday.

Icardi touched the ball home from close range in the 52nd minute after being teed up Pablo Sarabia whose superb pass beat Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera.

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PSG have taken a maximum six points from their first two matches and are four points clear of second-placed Club Club Brugge, who drew 2-2 at Real Madrid earlier on Tuesday. Madrid are bottom, level on one point with Turkey's Galatasaray.

Following the match, Thomas Meunier told RMC Sport: "It was a perfect night. With Real Madrid and Club Brugge drawing, we are four points ahead of second place. We knew it would not be easy. Our 12th man did a good job here.

"I am happy with the team -- we fought and did battle. We resisted. We had chances and we could have scored more goals. However, our mentality was right and that was the most important thing.

"We needed a big performance from Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe to keep Ryan Babel at bay and they did that perfectly."

PSG wasted several other chances throughout the game as they dominated the encounter and found space in the final third on several occasions.

"We won 1-0 again. It was very tight, but we deserved it," PSG boss Thomas Tuchel told RMC Sport. "It was a difficult match. Galatasaray played with courage and intensity. We were unable to score twice in the opening 20 minutes. The team put in a huge performance. They fought together and we are very happy about that.

"Our midfield three were very good. I really like this mix. They are balanced, intense and reliable. It is good to fight, but also to play.

"Angel Di Maria was good, but he could have scored twice -- we lacked precision. He is always ready to suffer and to defend from the front. He is in shape."

The hosts had their first chance in the 18th minute when Younes Belhanda and Jean Michael Seri exchanged passes, before Seri fired wide.

Radamel Falcao missed an opportunity for the hosts to level the game in the 69th minute, when he failed to convert a central free kick from just outside the box. 

QUOTES

Thomas Tuchel to RMC Sport: "We won 1-0 again. It was very tight, but we deserved it. It was a difficult match. Galatasaray played with courage and intensity. We were unable to score twice in the opening 20 minutes. The team put in a huge performance. They fought together and we are very happy about that."

"Our midfield three were very good. I really like this mix. They are balanced, intense and reliable. It is good to fight, but also to play."

"Angel Di Maria was good, but he could have scored twice -- we lacked precision. He is always ready to suffer and to defend from the front. He is in shape."

"You cannot expect too much from Kylian Mbappe as he has not played enough yet. It has been the first time that he has been injured and kept out for a few weeks, so that was new for him. Mauro Icardi was ready to start, he worked hard and that was essential."

QUOTES -- Marco Verratti in the mixed zone: "It was a different type of match. There was a big crowd, but what happens on nthe pitch ultimately counts. We performed with a lot of character. It was a difficult game. We played well and could have scored a second to be more relaxed. We suffered, though, suffered together and I am happy with that."

QUOTES -- Idrissa Gueye to RMC Sport: "We showed great maturity. We stayed calm, remained confident and tried to get balls out to counter. It is always comllicated coming away from here with three points, but we did it -- it bodes well for the future. Now there is expectation, teams know how to play against us and that makes it more difficult. The game is not only played in midfield -- we must switch it up. Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe are reassuring to play in front of. I hope they will keep their current level."

QUOTES -- Thomas Meunier to RMC Sport: "It was a perfect night. With Real Madrid and Club Brugge drawing, we are four points ahead of second place. We knew it would not be easy. Our 12th man did a good job here. I am happy with the team -- we fought and did battle. We resisted. We had chances and we could have scored more goals. However, our mentality was right and that was the most important thing."

"We needed a big performance from Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe to keep Ryan Babel at bay and they did that perfectly."