PSG keeps its distance from Monaco; Lens bounces back

The season with two faces continues for Paris Saint-Germain. Dying in the Champions League, the Parisian club, quiet leader of Ligue 1, wandered into Angers, Saturday November 9, winning 4-2, during the 11^e day which also saw Monaco regain second place in the standings from Marseille – soundly beaten on Friday by Auxerre – thanks to its victory in Strasbourg (3-1).

In search of offensive efficiency after its disappointment, Wednesday at home, against Atlético de Madrid in C1 (2-1 defeat despite a clear domination), the PSG, very overhauled, did not provide details against Angers , 15^e of Ligue 1, and already led 4-0 at the break. The weakness of the Angevin defense inevitably qualifies the Parisian success of the evening but the Parisian club, still undefeated in the championship, has already scored 33 goals in eleven days, or three goals per match on average. Compare with the poor record in the Champions League (3 goals in 4 matches).

Established on the right wing, the South Korean Lee Kang-in opened the scoring by taking a low cross from Marco Asensio, once again placed in false number 9 (1-0, 17^e). The ball entered at the last minute despite an Angevin defender's attempted save on his line. Lee quickly doubled the lead by calmly taking another cross behind Asensio (2-0, 20^e).

The Spaniard, for his part, offered himself a hat-trick of assists by then serving Bradley Barcola, intelligently shifted and who only had to strike with force (3-0, 31^e). The former Lyon player pushed Angers by heading a brushed cross from Lee, a rarity for him (4-0, 45 + 2). He is the championship's top scorer with 10 goals.

Luis Enrique predicts “the beginning of a change”

The Parisians then only had to manage in the second half and coach Luis Erique was able to launch players like Randal Kolo Muani and Désiré Doué, lacking playing time. The first was able to show his liveliness . He notably made a Nice breakthrough but his shot was repelled by Yahia Fofana (75th). And the French international found the post at the very end of the match. As for Doué, he was once again borrowed, not knowing what to do with his position on the left wing, between aborted dribbles and back passes.

For their part, the Angevins delivered a better performance than during the first act and were rewarded with a magnificent volley sent into the top corner by Esteban Lepaul, coming off the bench (4-1, 90 + 1). Then Emmanuel Biumla headed a corner to demonstrate Parisian defensive weakness on a set piece (4-2, 90 + 7).

Nevertheless, PSG can go into the international break with an easy victory which could, according to their coach, give a little confidence. “NWe were extremely effective, blocking [mental en Ligue des champions] will pass, it’s the beginning of a change”assured Luis Enrique. Paris “has good players, the quality is there. Is it a question of pressure? Maybe. We are going to score a lot of goals in the Champions League and in the championship”he warned.

Luis Enrique's men will have a prestigious opportunity to prove their coach right during the crucial trip to Bayern Munich on November 26.

Lens profite

Behind the Parisian club, Monaco, which remained in three games in a row without a victory, took over the role of runner-up by winning in the afternoon in Strasbourg. Trailing for a long time after a goal from Guéla Doué (0-1, 29^e), the Monegasques won at the end of the match thanks to a double from Eliesse Ben Seghir (1-1, 79^e on penalty, 2-1, 89^e) and a goal from George Ilenikhena (3-1, 90 + 1). Strasbourg remains tenth with 13 points, a place which corresponds to its uneven start to the season.

In the second match of the afternoon, Lens overthrew Nantes at the very end of the match to win at home 3-2. The Canaries, who have not won in the championship since the 3^e day on August 31 and a victory in Montpellier 3-1, thought they would have their third success this season by leading 2-1 until the 86^e.

But the Nigerian Hamzat Ojediran first equalized (2-2) thanks to a decisive pass from Machado, before the Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois, in an innocuous action, completely missed by lobbing his goalkeeper while trying to pass him the ball. ball. Adrien Thomasson then just had to push the ball into an empty goal (3-2, 90^e).

Thanks to this victory, Lens is provisionally 5^e of Ligue 1 with 17 points, while Nantes is 14^etied on points (10) with Angers, 15^ewhich after its rout against Paris, has a worse goal difference (-3 against -9).

The matches between Lens and Nantes and then between Angers and PSG were briefly interrupted after supporters threw tennis balls onto the field to express their hostility to the Professional Football League and its television broadcasters.

The 11^e day ends on Sunday with the return to Ligue 1 of the derby between Saint-Étienne and Lyon (8:45 p.m.). Lille has the opportunity, in the event of victory in Nice (3 p.m.), to get on the podium instead of Olympique de Marseille.