PSG eliminates Lens on penalties

Jostled by the Lensois for 90 minutes, the Parisians relied on their goalkeeper, Matvey Safonov, to qualify for the round of 32 on Sunday.

The defending champion passed but he flirted with the edge of the precipice during these 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. After 90 undecided minutes (1-1), PSG eliminated Lens on Sunday, December 22, on penalties (4-3). Luis Enrique's men failed to make a difference in the game and can thank their goalkeeper, Matvey Safonov, who stopped Lens' last two attempts.

The Parisians were as precise on penalties as they were messy in the game. Luis Enrique had chosen to do without a real scorer by leaving Gonçalo Ramos on the bench in favor of Ousmane Dembélé, aligned at the forefront . His players were very clumsy with their crosses and their attempts during the first hour of play. On the contrary, the Lensois, who returned reinvigorated after half-time, put them in difficulty, notably with strikes from Angelo Fulgini not enough rolled up. But their self-sacrifice was rewarded on a corner poorly repelled by the Parisian defense, with a goal from Abdukodir Khusanov (66th).

PSG reacted thanks to Gonçalo Ramos, very lively in recent weeks and coming into play five minutes earlier, who put Paris back up to the Sang et Or (70th), with a pivotal shot after an error from Kevin Danso. The match, balanced, was therefore decided on penalties and if the Parisians all shot very well, the Lensois Mbala Nzola and Andy Diouf saw their attempts rejected by Matvey Safonov, savior of his team. The players from the capital will face the amateurs from Espaly, who play in the fifth division, in the round of 16.