Participant scores as Mbappe & Messi encourage essential win
Paris Saint-Germain took an enormous step in direction of profitable the Ligue 1 title as soon as once more with a cushty 3-1 victory over Lens on Saturday.
An early pink card for the second-placed guests arrange what would finally be a cushty win for PSG as first-half targets from Kylian Mbappe, Vitinha and Lionel Messi noticed the Parisians open up a nine-point lead on the prime of the desk.
Lens made a pleasant begin to the sport and sparked pleasure after only a few minutes, with an Angelo Fulgini cross forcing a diving save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It took the ball-dominant PSG a short while to get going and their first actual sight of purpose got here shortly after ten minutes. Some wonderful work from Mbappe on the suitable wing led the Frenchman to the field, and his cut-back to Lionel Messi on the sting of the realm arrange a strike which was crucially blocked by a determined Facundo Medina.
Sadly for the guests, their mission was made considerably tougher when, with 18 minutes on the clock, they went down to 10 males as midfielder Salis Abdul Samed was proven a straight pink card for a nasty lunge on Achraf Hakimi.
Regardless of Lens’ makes an attempt to attempt to keep on prime of proceedings after the pink card, they have been quickly behind as Mbappe’s effort went crashing in off the suitable put up. It was his 139th purpose for the membership, breaking the staff’s all-time prime scoring document within the course of.
With spirits damaged, PSG added a second only a few minutes later. Vitinha, who assisted the opener, struck from distance to double his aspect’s lead, however followers have been celebrating a 3rd earlier than they’d even sat down once more.
Messi and Mbappe performed an excellent one-two, with the latter’s backheel breaking the strains and sending the Argentine by means of on purpose, and Messi was by no means going to overlook.
The half-time break was well-received by Lens, who got here out after the interval with a renewed sense of vigour as they tried to get well a few of their satisfaction.
That ambition was rewarded with a penalty on the hour mark after Fabian Ruiz was deemed to have dealt with the ball, and Frankowski made no mistake from 12 yards.
Lens tried to construct on that momentum however, regardless of the most effective efforts of Lois Openda, couldn’t do extra to combat their manner again into the sport.
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7/10 – Wasn’t actually wanted till late on to maintain Openda at bay.
CB: Marquinhos – 6/10 – Regarded a little bit nervy when put beneath strain however may have been grateful to see that press fade away.
CB: Sergio Ramos – 7/10 – Managed Lens’ risk properly, whether or not within the air or on the bottom.
CB: Danilo Pereira – 7/10 – Moved up into midfield when in possession and that overload, particularly after the pink card, proved important.
RM: Achraf Hakimi – 6/10 – Not as energetic down the suitable as you’d anticipate, maybe as a result of he was crunched for the sending off.
CM: Carlos Soler – 5/10 – Not Soler’s finest efficiency. Discovered it arduous to get entangled.
CM: Vitinha – 8/10 – A very spectacular efficiency with a incredible purpose.
CM: Fabian Ruiz – 6/10 – Superb. Nothing greater than effective. Must step it up if he needs to remain at PSG.
LM: Nuno Mendes – 8/10 – A large risk down the left. At all times seemed able to grabbing an elaborate help or two however bagged a easy one for Vitinha.
ST: Kylian Mbappe – 9/10 – Actually got here to life after the pink card with each a purpose and an help within the first half.
ST: Lionel Messi – 8/10 – Roamed round in midfield to drag the strings and completed off an excellent transfer with Mbappe.
Substitutes
Juan Bernat (77′ for Mendes) – 6/10
Warren Zaire-Emery (88′ for Marquinhos) – N/A
Supervisor
Christophe Galtier – 5/10 – Wanted the pink card to get PSG on prime however did not all the time look convincing even then. This recreation was determined by moments of magic from his gamers, somewhat than any tactical genius.
GK: Brice Samba (4); CB: Jonathan Gradit (5); CB: Kevin Danso (5); CB: Facundo Medina (6); RM: Przemyslaw Frankowski (7); CM: Salis Abdul Samed (2); CM: Seko Fofana (7); LM: Deiver Machado (6); AM: Adrien Thomasson (5); AM: Angelo Fulgini (6); ST: Lois Openda (6)
Substitutes: Florian Sotoca (6), Jean Onana (6), Massadio Haidara (5), David Costa (N/A)
