Parisians beat Lens to keep run going
In a match that they controlled well, Paris Saint-Germain beat a brave Lens side 1-0 on Saturday. Here's a look back at a win that puts the Rouge et Bleu firmly at the top of Ligue 1.
A week after turning on the style in a one-sided 0-3 win away to Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain were back in Ligue 1 action when they played host to RC Lens on Matchday 10. Luis Enrique fielded a Marquinhos/Willian Pacho central defensive pairing in front of Matvey Safonov in goal in a bid to secure another win against a side towards the top of the table. Achraf Hakimi started on the right flank, with Nuno Mendes on the opposite side. In midfield, Vitinha was in the holding role, supported by João Neves and Fabian Ruiz. In attack, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola occupied the wings in support of Marco Asensio, who started in a false No9 position.
In a frantic start to the game, the Parisians immediately put their opponents under pressure. Bradley Barcola made a superb run down the left flank before finding his team-mate Ousmane Dembélé with a low cross, and the Paris No10 finished from close range (1-0, 4')! With their attacking duo once again at the forefront, the Rouge et Bleu set the tone for the match and managed to break down the league's best defence in just four minutes. They even came close to doubling their lead, but Fabian Ruiz brought the best out of Brice Samba before Ousmane Dembélé hit the left post moments later (15').
After a complicated first quarter of an hour, the Sang & Or reacted by positioning their block higher up the pitch, with Will Still and his men keen to prevent the Parisians from playing out from the back. But when the Parisians did manage to break free of their opponents' pressure, space opened up and Marco Asensio tried to take advantage, without success (35', 42' and 43'). Just before the break, the Rouge et Bleu had one last chance to double their lead, but Bradley Barcola's shot flew over Brice Samba's goal (45'+4).
The second half got off to a slower start than the first, with the Parisians maintaining their grip on the game against a willing Lensois side that were struggling to threaten. Just as the hour mark approached, the game took a turn when Abdukodir Khusanov was shown a red card for an uncontrolled tackle on Achraf Hakimi's shin (59'). Reduced to ten men, the Nordistes were forced to accept the rule imposed by the Parisians, who pressed for a second goal. At the end of a fine team move, the whole Parc thought Bradley Barcola's shot would nestle in the top corner, but Brice Samba was again decisive for his side (74').
Despite their lack of success, Luis Enrique's side did not let up and continued to storm the Lens penalty area. Faced with a compact, well-organised block, they had to rely on the energy of a certain Désiré Doué, who had come on as a substitute a few minutes earlier to try and break down an opposing defence that was refusing to buckle. Despite his best intentions, the Parisian No14 also stumbled up against the Northern rearguard (76' and 90'+3).
In a match that they clearly dominated but were unable to double their advantage in, Paris Saint-Germain secured another important victory in the league and moved six points clear of second-placed Monaco for the first time this season. The capital club can now turn their attention to the Champions League and the visit of Atlético Madrid next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes (9pm), on Matchday 4 of the league phase. The date is set!