Having bounced again from their early-October dip in kind, Paris Saint-Germain have been trying to make it three league wins on the trot forward of a must-win Champions League match in midweek, and take a six-point lead within the desk after Monaco’s .
In opposition to Will Nonetheless’s Lens facet – who solely conceded their first defeat of the Ligue 1 marketing campaign in final week’s derby in opposition to Lille – Luis Enrique opted to to the experiment which had seen Ousmane Dembélé function as a false 9 for the previous couple of video games. As an alternative, Marco Asensio returned to the beginning lineup because the French worldwide moved again to the best wing.
The hosts have been handed an early lead by way of the league’s best pairing in entrance of purpose of their two French worldwide wingers – this time, although, it was Bradley Barcola who supplied the help, a low cross for Dembélé to transform into an empty web.
Luis Enrique’s males predictably dominated proceedings for the remainder of the primary half, however a mix of overthinking and an absence of communication noticed them squand the opposite probabilities that got here their method. Dembélé himself got here closest to doubling the lead with a curled shot from exterior the field which clipped the put up, whereas Asensio twice discovered himself thwarted by an onrushing Brice Samba.
The Sang et Or have been more and more venturing ahead as the sport went on, powered by Mbala Nzola’s hold-up play within the midst of an intense battle with Willian Pacho, and a few piercing line-breaking runs from Andy Diouf. However their resurgence was reduce brutally brief by Abdukodir Khusanov’s sending-off on the hour mark, with the Uzbek defender’s studs-up problem on Hakimi finally deemed a pink card offence after a VAR examine.
Luis Enrique’s males scarcely capitalised on the benefit, although, with an imperious Samba denying their lacklustre attacking line at each flip. The guests would by no means really hassle Safonov, with Willian Pacho specifically persevering with his spectacular streak of kind and establishing himself as a defensive chief of equal significance to his captain.
Whereas bouncing again from a derby loss in opposition to the league leaders within the capital could have been a tall order, conceding two defeats on the trot does augure the top of Will Nonetheless’s honeymoon interval with the Artois outfit. Returning to their early-season kind can be made all of the harder by one other two absences to return within the squad, with Sotoca’s damage and Khusanov’s suspension.
The truth that the hosts have been unable to double their lead in opposition to an more and more stretched defence, although, factors to a wider subject in effectivity which can value them extra dearly in opposition to Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.
PSG participant scores
Matvei Safonov, 6
Achraf Hakimi, 6
Marquinhos, 5
Willian Pacho, 7
Nuno Mendes, 6
Fabián Ruiz, 5
Vitinha, 5
João Neves, 5
Ousmane Dembélé, 6 – On his return to the best wing, the French worldwide scored his fifth purpose of the marketing campaign inside the first 5 minutes, and hit the put up ten minutes later. He mixed properly with the electrical Bradley Barcola, however discovered little success in his personal one-on-one duels, dropping the ball too simply in transition. Changed by Kang-in Lee on the hour mark.
Marco Asensio, 4 – Paris Saint-Germain aren’t any nearer to discovering a dependable back-up choice within the quantity 9 place – in stark distinction to the understanding between Dembélé and Barcola, the Spaniard appeared largely faraway from PSG’s general play. The handful of alternatives he did encounter have been saved out by a wonderful Brice Samba. Got here off for Désiré Doué for the ultimate 20 minutes.
Bradley Barcola, 7
Lens chosen participant scores
Brice Samba, 9 – There was little the Artois outfit’s shot-stopper might do concerning the opening purpose, however he thwarted each different Paris Saint-Germain probability (7 saves in whole), even when the hosts have been significantly inept in entrance of purpose this afternoon.
Abdokodir Khusanov, 4
Andy Diouf, 6
M’Bala Nzola, 6
GFFN – reporting from the Parc des Princes, Paris
