before Manchester City, PSG wins in pain against Lens

The French championship continues its journey. The eighteen clubs are on deck this weekend for the eighteenth day of Ligue 1. Four days before the reception of Manchester City (England) on behalf of the seventh day of the regular phase of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain traveled to the north of France to challenge Racing Club de Lens this Saturday January 18. At the end of an exciting meeting, the capital club won by the smallest of margins (2-1) against a valiant Artesian team. On the one hand, Will Still's team is in seventh place (27 pts). On the other hand, the capital club remains leader and takes ten steps ahead of Olympique de Marseille (second) and fourteen points over LOSC (third).

Parisians punished for their lack of initiative

Paris Saint-Germain, who quickly monopolized the ball, had great difficulty approaching the Lens penalty area. Shortly before the end of the first quarter of an hour, the Parisians had the first opportunity of the match. Barcola does the forcing by transplanting into the axis. Favorable counter from the Parisian on Thomasson and big bridge on Medina, Sarr urgently clears into the area! PSG insists, Ruiz is free in the axis twenty meters away, his shot on target from the left is deflected by Koffi (13th).

A few minutes later, Désiré Doué appeared near the left corner of the opponent's area. His left-footed strike, which sorely lacks power, does not really pose a problem for Hervé Koffi (22nd). Nine minutes from the end of regulation time in the first act, the Parisians conceded the opener. Koyalipou tries to throw Nzola in depth, Pacho contains the Lensois so that Hernandez brings the ball out. The latter still concedes a corner, Frankowski crosses, Vitinha extends in a bell towards Nzola who controls and concludes from the left from close range (1-0, 36th).

A stunning PSG

Shortly before the hour mark, the Racing Club de Lens thought about taking the break. But M'Bala Nzola's goal was logically refused. The RCL number 8 was offside at the start of the action where he went to score at close range from the right, piercing Gianluigi Donnaruma (57th). Two minutes later, Paris Saint-Germain came back into the match. By leaving space at their back, the Artesian club is caught from behind. Sarr does not succeed in containing Barcola who can raise his head to the right in the Lens area, his back pass benefits Ruiz who is free to cross from the right to equalize (1-1, 59th). Behind, the reigning French champion monopolized the ball. In great pain, the resident of the Bollaert-Delelis stadium took a step back. Twelve minutes from the end of regulation time, Lens goalkeeper Koffi kept his cool and headed away Doué's strong left-footed shot (78th).

At the end of the match, Will Still's men took their heads out of the water. Jonathan Gradit steals an unsteady side pass from PSG in front of his area. The defender resists Neves and shoots from the right from eighteen meters, Donnarumma has the last word by diving to his right (81st). A few minutes later, Luis Enrique's men took the lead. The Parisian ball recovery goes without a hitch and João Neves moves out to the left to serve Bradley Barcola. Number 29 is completely free and, in the area, scores with a force from the right, aiming for the opposite corner (1-2, 86th). Behind, Parisian domination was accentuated. The Parisian titi, Senny Mayulu, takes his chance from the left in the area, without surprising Hervé Koffi who avoids the break (89th). At the last second of added time, Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed his team to maintain their goal lead. Przemyslaw Frankowski took his chance from the right in the truth zone with a very tight angle, and the Parisian goalkeeper had the last word with his long horizontal release (90'+4). Immediately, the referee ended the match (90'+5).