Heads high

The context
The Groupama Stadium was the stage for a genuine top-of-the-bill spectacle. OL had won two of their previous three hostings of the Parisians, the first game this season had ended 5-0 to PSG with Kylian Mbappé scoring four. Any more ingredients needed? Nope, thought not.

The key moments
What followed was 90 minutes that did justice to our Ligue 1, but unfortunately there was no fairytale finish for the Parisians. It did start well though. Angel Di Maria whipped out that wand of a left foot to open the scoring with a crisp drive (0-1, 7'). Alphonse Areola then took centre stage with saves from Bertrand Traoré (18'), Nabil Fekir's rocket shot (20'), Memphis Depay's close-range effort (24') and another flying stop from Fekir (30')...not even he could stop Moussa Dembélé's header though (1-1, 33'). Just before the break, Di Maria would have restored his team's lead only for Jason Denayer to produce a miracle on his goalie (43').

After the break, the capital club quickly conceded their 11th penalty of the season, and Fekir did not pass up the opportunity (2-1, 49'). That was the cue for the Rouge et Bleu to head en masse towards the Lyon goal, but Anthony Lopes stood firm. He kept out a Julian Draxler effort (51'), twice denied Mbappé (52', 53') and then stopped an Edinson Cavani header (67') before thwarting Mbappé again (72'). The top-flight's leading scorers could do nothing, nor could Leandro Paredes, who came off the bench (79') for his competitive debut and was left marked by a hefty challenge by Fekir (90+2'). Paris' unbeaten run away from home ended at 17 matches, a run that had started after a 2-1 defeat in Lyon in January 2018...

A Parisian in the match: Alphonse Areola
Coach Thomas Tuchel certainly has luxury in the choice of whom he picks in goal. No fewer than six key saves were made by the France international, notably his double reflex stop from Traoré-Depay (24'). And still, it wasn't enough...

The word: Thousand
Involved in four goals in his last three league games (two goals, two assists), Di Maria opened the scoring with what was the 1000th competitive goal since 2011 and the arrival of the new shareholders.

Coming next
The capital club will be back at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday to face FC Villefranche (N1) in the Coupe de France Last 16 with the four-time defending champions looking to make progress.