Lens became strong at home and finished off unbeaten PSG in Ligue 1 this season. Neymar and Messi did not play for the Parisians
The arrival of the new year came with a poisoned gift for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and a first in Ligue 1 so far this season, the defeat of the leader, hitherto intractable, subdued by Lens, second in the standings still dominated by the reigning champion.
Sin Neymarsuspended following the expulsion last day, and without Leo Messistill resting following the world title obtained with Argentina in Qatar, Paris Saint Germain did not have enough with the will to a blurred Kylian Mbappe nor with the rest of the renowned players that Christophe Galtier’s squad has.
Relive Ligue 1 with the Bollaert Delelis Stadium scoreboard. The seven points that PSG had at the start of the seventeenth day they stayed in four following the victory of Franck Haise’s team that was reaffirmed as a revelation of the season despite the setback -a draw- once morest Nice in their last game.
But Lens faced the star game of the session without any complex, the duel between the first and second in Ligue 1 that he stirred following five minutes with the local goal. A cross from the left by Massadio Haidara was touched by Gianluigi Donnarumma. But he fell at the feet of the Pole Przemyslaw Frankowski who did not waste the gift and sent the ball into the back of the goal.
The response of the Parisian team, which ended 2022 with 14 wins and two draws in the season, no defeat, was quick. He was born at the feet of Carlos Soler who opened the game to the right, where Nordi Mukiele was, who launched him into the center of the area where he burst Hugo Ekitike to beat Brice Samba.
Lens did not let Paris Saint Germain exploit the numerous virtues, its considerable offensive potential. On the contrary, in each contra he left in evidence the defensive difficulties of the visitors that were remarkably disarmed when it came to having to try to contain their rival.
The Lens, inspired, took advantage once more. It was a couple of minutes before half an hour when a long pass from Seko Fofana was picked up by the Belgian Openda Laws who launched a solo run from midfield and faced Donnarumma. He had to get rid of Marquinhos, find the gap and beat the Italian goalkeeper.
Waiting for a reaction from the visitor that did not arrive, Haise’s team increased their lead at the start of the second half. Three minutes had passed when the orderly local pressure at the exit of the ball from Paris Saint Germain caused a loss and the arrival of the ball to Openda who, with a cue, assisted Alexis Claude-Maurice who, for the third time, surpassed Donnarumma.
Pablo Sarabia and Vitinha were Galtier’s resources to try to alleviate the situation. They went out at game time. It was the Spaniard who had a good chance to close the gap but Brice Samba starred in a wonderful intervention.
The champion was left without an answer, Mbappe missing, while his rival, unleashed, was looking for the fourth. It did not arrive but neither did the reaction of the PSG who left Lens with their first loss of the season and her lead advantage noticeably reduced.
