PSG success exceeds Kežman's expectations

Mateja Kežman told UEFA.com Paris Saint-Germain FC had surprised even themselves by making a faultless start to their Group J campaign after maintaining their 100% record with a 2-0 win against FC Karpaty Lviv on Thursday.

Following their eye-catching Matchday 1 win at Sevilla FC, early goals from Christophe Jallet and Nenê saw off the Ukrainian visitors to the Parc des Princes, and lifted Antoine Kombouaré's men into top spot in the section, three points clear of the chasing pack.

"It's great to have this kind of start," said Kežman. "It's perhaps one we didn't expect as we had the game away in Seville. That first match really gave us confidence as we played really well away from home. Today, the game was not quite as dramatic, but we had two shots and scored two goals in the first 20 minutes, and then the game was over."

After that spectacular opening, PSG never looked in danger of surrendering their ten-match unbeaten home run in Europe. While Sergei Zenjov perhaps should have tested Apoula Édel before half-time, the Cameroonian goalkeeper enjoyed a relatively trouble-free evening as Karpaty were held at arm's length by their increasingly impressive hosts.

The victory was the fourth in a promising five-game unbeaten run in all competitions that has provoked suggestions that PSG's rocky recent history could soon be a thing of the past.

"This team is coming of age," explained Kežman, who is in his third season at the club. "This is almost the third season that all the guys have been together. There have been very few additions, just Nenê and Siaka [Tiéné] on the left-hand side. Other than that, the guys are pretty much the same. We are growing as a team. We're growing both tactically and mentally, and we've shown some good things up until now."

That added maturity will be required come the 21 October encounter with Borussia Dortmund in the imposing surroundings of the Westfalenstadion. However, with PSG sitting proudly atop the section, Kežman believes three points in Germany is a realistic ambition.

"It's great to play there. It's a great stadium, with great supporters. But we go there as group leaders, and we know that if we win we'll have almost completed the job," said the 31-year-old. "We've played 4-4-2 all the time, and I'm sure we'll keep the same formation. We'll go there full of confidence, and try to win the game."