NICE, France (Interstat) — Paris Saint-Germain opened its Ligue 1 title defense with a commanding 4-0 victory over Nice on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Allianz Riviera, a result that defied the flow of the match for nearly an hour before a late flurry of goals sealed a comprehensive win.

The visitors, heavily favored by statistical models, were projected by Interstat’s ELO system with a 96.80 percent probability to win, with a predicted final score of 2-1. The reality proved more lopsided, though the scoreline remained deceptive until a three-goal burst in the final 10 minutes.

The first half was a cagey, physical affair with few clear chances. The game’s first major incident was a yellow card shown to PSG’s Senny Mayulu in the 16th minute for a reckless challenge. The match tilted decisively just past the hour mark when Nice defender Youssuf Ndayishimiye was shown a straight red card in the 61st minute, forcing the home side to play a man down for the final half-hour.

Despite the numerical advantage, PSG struggled to break down a resolute Nice defense until manager Luis Enrique turned to his bench. The breakthrough finally came in the 49th minute from substitute Désiré Doué, who provided the crucial first goal to calm the visiting side’s nerves.

The dam truly broke in the final 10 minutes as PSG’s superior depth and fitness overwhelmed the tiring hosts. Substitute Pedro Fernandez doubled the lead in the 81st minute, effectively ending any lingering contest. The floodgates then opened, with Warren Zaïre-Emery, another substitute, adding a third goal just four minutes later in the 85th minute. The scoring was capped by substitute Nuno Mendes, who netted the fourth goal to complete the rout. Mayulu, despite his early booking, registered an assist in the buildup to one of the late goals.

The comprehensive victory, achieved entirely through goals from second-half substitutes, underscores the formidable squad depth at PSG’s disposal. It marks a perfect start to their Ligue 1 campaign, moving their record to 1-0-0, while handing Nice an 0-1-0 start to the season. Across all competitions this season, both teams now hold identical records.

The result will raise questions for Nice, which competed well for long stretches but ultimately collapsed under pressure after the red card. For PSG, the ability to summon such decisive quality from the bench signals a powerful intent as they begin their pursuit of another domestic championship.