TANGIER, Morocco -- Paris Saint-Germain lifted their fifth-consecutive French Super Cup after Dani Alves and Adrien Rabiot goals sealed a 2-1 win. The Brazil international inspired a second half recovery.
Positives
Alves. The Brazilian showed exactly what he brings to the team immediately with a man of the match performance capped by a goal and an assist.
Rabiot. The France international scored and put in a fine showing that sets the tone nicely with big things expected of him ahead of the new season.
Result. Things were not looking good after a flat first 45 minutes and with Monaco 1-0 up. However, Unai Emery's men looked a completely different side in the second half and fought back to win.
Negatives
Defence. Although they won, it was an unconvincing rearguard performance. Monaco created a good number of chances before Alves' superb equaliser and Thiago Silva needs to tighten up the back line.
Organisation. Until they found their shape in the second half, the team looked devoid of purpose and lacked ideas. Alves provided the inspiration after the break but they will need more than that going forward.
Sluggish. Perhaps it was the heat in Morocco, but most of the players struggled and did not look like a team about to get their Ligue 1 season underway.
Manager rating out of 10
6 -- Emery stuck with the 4-3-3 formation but was bold in deploying Alves on the right of the attack and risking a semi-fit Rabiot from the start in the middle. The Spaniard was rewarded with a much-improved second half display.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alphonse Areola, 6 -- The French shot-stopper was beaten far too easily by Djibril Sidibe in the first half but atoned for that later with a stylish save from a Guido Carrillo header.
DF Thomas Meunier, 4 -- Aside from a late cross that nearly found Edinson Cavani, it was an outing to forget for the Belgium international. However, it should be remembered that he has only just returned to action after a lengthy lay-off after ankle surgery.
DF Marquinhos, 5 -- The Brazil international was not at his best and, even if he could have scored late in the first half, he was sloppy at the back at times.
DF Thiago Silva, 6 -- The captain struggled to marshal a wobbly back line during the first half but was more commanding in the second and felt the pain when making a strong but fair and well-timed tackle on Sidibe towards the end.
DF Layvin Kurzawa, 4 -- The France international struggled against Monaco scorer Sidibe and contributed towards PSG's lack of balance at the back. Like Meunier, Kurzawa is still working his way back to fitness after surgery.
MF Thiago Motta, 4 -- The Italy veteran looked off the pace for the most part and was involved in the build-up to Monaco's opener. He was ultimately replaced by Blaise Matuidi.
MF Marco Verratti, 5 -- After a wretched start to the match, the Italy international grew into the encounter a bit. Considering it was only his second preseason appearance, it was not a bad effort. He made way for Christopher Nkunku at the end.
MF Adrien Rabiot, 7 -- A surprise inclusion in the starting XI after his injury against Tottenham Hotspur in the International Champions Cup, the Frenchman stood out in the midfield and headed home firmly from an Alves cross for the winner.
FW Dani Alves, 8 -- Superb. The summer signing from Juventus endeared himself to his new fans early with a stunning free kick equaliser and the assist for Rabiot's winner. The 34-year-old was energetic and a constant threat to Monaco's backline in a performance that put the likes of Lucas Moura to shame.
FW Edinson Cavani, 6 -- The Uruguay international was not really given enough service to do anything significant but he did still come close with a first-half free kick. Aside from that, he got involved physically but had little to feed on.
FW Javier Pastore, 6 -- The Argentina international tried to make things happen when he got on the ball but his teammates did not get him involved enough. Goncalo Guedes replaced him late on.
Substitutes
MF Blaise Matuidi, NR -- The France international's energy made him an upgrade on Motta for the final 19 minutes but that was not difficult after the Italian's listless display.
FW Goncalo Guedes, NR -- Four minutes at the end was not really long enough for the Portugal international to make much of an impression.
MF Christopher Nkunku, NR -- Sent on in place of Verratti at the death, there was barely enough time for the youth academy graduate to touch the ball, let along do something meaningful.