PSG traveled this Saturday (5 p.m.) to Lens to face Racing as part of the 18th day of L1 2024/2025 and the Parisians won 2-1 thanks to goals from Fabian Ruiz and Barcola. Paris completely missed its first period, finding itself logically behind, and was underwater until Ruiz’s goal on the hour mark. PSG finally extinguished a boiling Bollaert stadium a few minutes from the end by Barcola, already decisive passer on the first goal. It was tough but Paris leaves Lens with three points.
The compositions:
The composition of PSG in Lens: Donnarumma – Zaïre-Emery, Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez (Neves, 60e) – Ruiz, Vitinha, Mendes – Barcola, Lee (Ramos, 60e), Doué (Mayulu, 87e)
The PSG bench: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Zagué, Tape, João Neves, Mayulu, Asensio, Ramos
The composition of Lens against PSG: Koffi – Gradit, Sarr, Medina (Fulgini, 87th) – Frankowski, Thomasson (El Aynaoui, 80th), Diouf (Ojediran, 67th), Machado – Sotoca (Saïd, 80th), Koyalipou (Pereira da Costa, 67th), Nzola
The bench of Lens: Delplace, Aguilar, Ojediran, El Aynaoui, Mendy, Zaroury, Fulgini, Pereira Da Costa, Saïd
The match sheet:
The goals: Nzola (1-0, 36th), Ruiz (1-1, 59th, assist from Barcola), Barcola (1-2, 86th, assist from Neves)
Warnings: Vitinha (29th, late tackle on Machado), Machado (45th, late tackle on Lee), Thomasson (62nd, step on Neves), Mayulu (90th, obstruction on Machado)
The match:
PSG kicks off: Beraldo is right axial and Mendes visibly left relay, Lee in false point and Doué on the left. Paris took the ball and Zaire-Emery crossed but it was caught (2nd). PSG entered the match well but Doué was caught by Frankowski (4th). Lens has its first attack but Donnarumma lies down well in front of Thomasson (5th).
Little by little, the game becomes balanced and Donnarumma has to clear a long ball from Lens (9th). Racing multiplies the faults on Barcola but Mr. Pignard does not whistle anything at him (11th). The winger makes a good breakthrough but Sarr clears (13th). On the sidelines, Ruiz is served and hits from afar, Koffi is close to being surprised (13th). While trying to catch up with Lee, Medina hurts himself but he manages to continue through gritted teeth. In front of the area, Vitinha and Mendes combine but Gradit comes back well (20th).
On an error from Pacho, Lens finds itself in a good position but the Ecuadorian catches up and Donanrumma captures (20th). On a counter, Doué finds himself in a one-on-one against Sarr, he erases it and hits but Koffi catches it (22nd). The first corner is Lensois but clear, then Nzola has a great opportunity but Hernandez comes back very well (25th). Lens has a sudden highlight but Paris gets out of it and gets its foot back on the ball: Ruiz finds Doué but Gradit catches him (29th).
After entering the game well, PSG gradually fell asleep and Lens showed up, obtaining a third corner which was pushed back (34th). Lens makes a lot of impact, Paris suffers and concedes another corner (36th). Lens opened the scoring on this one: it was deflected by Vitinha towards the far post, Nzola recovered and struck hard at ground level (1-0, 36th)!
PSG tries to move forward but Lens is still as aggressive and makes mistakes (40th). To add more, Nuno Mendes had his ankle twisted by Nzola and remained on the ground, in pain (42nd). He finally limps back but Doué causes a good free kick to be cleared in several stages (44th). At the break, a very small PSG is logically led but Luis Enrique does not change anything at the break, except the reversal between Barcola and Doué on the two wings.
The start of the second period shows PSG once again dominated in the engagement but Zaire-Emery comes back on Machado (47th). Paris plays again very high in the opposing camp but ultimately creates no difference (51st). Mendes finally achieves a clean check and can give Barcola in front of the surface but he is caught by Frankowski (52nd). Lee finds Barcola in depth who manages to strike but, from a very tight angle, Koffi pushes away with his foot (54th)!
Machado escapes on the left and center, it is deflected but Donnarumma intervenes well, on the counter PSG is dangerous but Sarr hits Lee in front of the area without being penalized (56th). Lens thinks to score a second goal by Nzola on a counter, with the attacker having fun with Hernandez in the area but he is offside at the start (57th). Donnarumma is still very bad on the action in his goal…
PSG equalizes against all odds: Barcola steals the ball from Sarr on a back ball, he delays then crosses back for Ruiz who strikes victoriously with his right foot (1-1, 59th)!
While Luis Enrique takes out Hernandez and Lee for Neves and Ramos, Thomasson literally attacks Neves by stepping on him but only takes a yellow (62nd)!!! Paris is doing much better but Koyalipou is found in the area, he manages to strike twice in a row and Donnarumma has to work (65th)! Lens pushes hard again and crosses, Donnarumma is too short and Mendes has to concede a corner which does nothing (69th). Doué escapes and crosses but Koffi catches it in front of Ramos (73rd).
A very long Parisian sequence resulted in a strike from Ruiz in the blocked area, with the hand according to the player but not according to the referee (76th). PSG achieves a fantastic ball exit and Doué combines in the area with Ramos, he advances then hits hard with the left in the head of the goalkeeper who pushes back with luck (78th)!
-Neves misses an axial recovery at 20m, Gradit anticipates and strikes but Donnarumma makes a fantastic save in his goal (82nd). Paris finally scores a superb second goal on a counter: Doué brings the ball up and gives Neves in the middle, who slips the ball to Barcola, the control is clean and Barcola smashes the top corner (1-2, 86th)!
Mendes makes a huge breakthrough on the left and goes towards goal before crossing hard, it arrives at Mayulu who hits but Koffi pushes back in front of his line (90th). While Paris manages the end of the match, Lens has one last action and Donnarumma makes a very big save on a cross (94th)!
The impact on the ranking:
Before the meeting, the ranking is as follows:
- PSG : 43 points (+31)
- Marseille : 36 points (+19)
- Lille : 32 points (+11) (+1 match)
- Monaco : 31 points (+19) (+1 match)
- Nice : 30 points (+11) (+1 match)
The pre-match:
16h59 : Beautiful atmosphere in Lens, as often.
16h56 : The referee of the day will be Jérémie Pignard, which is rarely good news, but he has the sound system today.
16h55 : Entrance of the players onto the pitch.
16h54 : Hell begins, Christophe Josse has taken the air.
16h52 : The PSG bench: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Zagué, Tape, João Neves, Mayulu, Asensio, Ramos
16h50 : The captain of the day will be Donnarumma on the PSG side.
16h39 : Start of warm-up
16h38 : Bollaert this Saturday
16h32 : The opinion of the opposing coach before the match
16h30 : The superb away jersey is out this Saturday
16h15 : Hard line-up to follow on the Parisian side
