Stats & Facts: The win over Lens

A CLEAR HORIZON

A battle at the top of the league, with first hosting second. A turning point in the season that could have allowed Paris Saint-Germain's closest chaser to add pressure to the final sprint of the season. However, it was the players from the club from the capital that cleared the horizon running out 3-1 winners over Les Artésiens, extending their lead to 9 points with seven games still to go (Marseille can reduce the lead to 8 points if they are victorious over Troyes on Sunday evening).

MATCH REPORT

Even so, with 72 points after 31 games, Paris can see it on the cards. In fact, the 8 previous teams who had at least this total at this stage of the season (since 3 points counted for a win) all won the title at the end of the campaign. This bodes well for the club to become French Champions for the 11th time, a record in France.

(139x20/4) + (7/30x29) = KYLIAN MBAPPE

For once, Mbappé has played with the numbers. He became Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer in Ligue 1 with this goal scored shortly after the half-hour mark, launching 10 minutes of madness (see below) at the Parc des Princes. With 139 Ligue 1 goals to his name, he has now overtaken Edinson Cavani's record, after already surpassing the Uruguayan's record across all competitions a few weeks ago.

But that's not all! His goal was a delight, and his assist for Leo Messi was a sight to behold. It's his 7th assist for the Argentine in the league. Since last season, only Messi (for Mbappé) has picked up more assists for one player in the top-flight (16). They have linked up for at least 12 more goals than any other duo since 2021-22.

Kylian also became the first player to have scored at least 20 goals in 4 Ligue 1 seasons since Pedro Miguel Pauleta (also 4). Since his debuts in Ligue 1 in 2015-16, Kylian has scored against 29 different clubs in the top-flight (30 played), more than any other player. The only club he hasn't scored against is... Paris Saint-Germain.

IN TEN MINUTES, THE PARC (AND THE SEASON?) TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

A turning point in the match that could well be a turning point of the season. Lens reduced to ten men continued to press but were caught out by a Parisian storm at the half-hour mark. Mbappé first broke another record, after a perfectly executed move on the edge of the Lens box, allowing him to become the top scorer with the same club in L1 in the 21st century.

Six minutes later, Vitinha scored a beautiful goal, with a shot from distance that beat Brice Samba. The Portuguese had tried his luck in the same way a little earlier, but didn't find the target. However, in the 37th minute, the man who got the assist for the first goal (his third of the season), found the back of the net.

And three minutes later, Messi rang the bell, with this powerful left-footed effort, following a beauty of a pass from Mbappé. The 2022 World Champion continues with his impressive stats, with 15 goals and 14 assists to his name in Ligue 1 this season.