PSG secures victory without Kylian Mbappe, extending their lead to 11 points at the summit of Ligue 1.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrated after scoring PSG’s first goal during the French L1 football match against Lille LOSC. The absence of Kylian Mbappe, who was an unused substitute, did not hinder PSG as they secured a 3-1 victory over Lille, solidifying their position at the top of Ligue 1.
Lille initially took the lead in the sixth minute when Yusuf Yazici found the back of the net after a skillful play from Tiago Santos. However, PSG quickly responded with Goncalo Ramos capitalizing on an error by Alexsandro Ribeiro to equalize. Ribeiro’s night went from bad to worse as he miscued Fabian Ruiz’s cross into his own net, giving PSG the lead in the 17th minute.
In the second half, PSG continued to dominate, pressuring Lille’s defense and creating numerous opportunities. Despite Marco Asensio and Nordi Mukiele failing to convert their chances, PSG’s dominance was eventually reflected on the scoreboard when Randal Kolo Muani tapped in Bradley Barcola’s cut back in the 80th minute.
With this victory, PSG extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points ahead of second-placed Nice. Lille, on the other hand, find themselves four points behind in fourth place, having played a game more than their closest rivals Brest and Monaco.
PSG will now shift their focus to the Champions League as they prepare for their last-16 first-leg clash against Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, Lille will host Le Havre in their next fixture.
The absence of Mbappe did not hinder PSG’s performance against Lille, showcasing their strength and depth in the squad. As they aim to make a significant impact in the Champions League, PSG’s decision to rest their star forward demonstrates their focus on European success. However, Mbappe’s presence will undoubtedly be crucial in their pursuit of Champions League glory.
Lucas Chevalier of Lille was named the player of the match for his outstanding performance in goal, making a series of top-class saves to keep his team competitive in what was largely a one-sided affair.
Player Ratings:
PSG: Navas 6, Mukiele 8, Pereira 7, Beraldo 7, Hernandez 7, Ugarte 7, Fabian 7, Asensio 7, Dembele 8, Kolo Muani 8, Ramos 7. Subs: Barcola 8, Vitinha 6, Hakimi 6, Zaire-Emery 6.
LILLE: Chevalier 8*, Santos 7, Yoro 6, Ribeiro 4, Ismaily 5, Zhegrova 6, Bentaleb 6, Gomes 6, Andre 6, Gudmundsson 6, Yazici 7. Subs: Ounas 6, David 6, Cabella 6, Haraldsson n/a.
In the match highlights, Yazici opened the scoring for Lille in the 6th minute, taking advantage of slack defending. Ramos equalized for PSG in the 10th minute after a mistake by Ribeiro. Ribeiro’s night worsened as he scored an own goal in the 17th minute, giving PSG the lead. Despite several chances for both teams, Kolo Muani sealed the victory for PSG in the 81st minute.
With their commanding performance against Lille, PSG demonstrated their superiority in Ligue 1. As they prepare for their Champions League campaign, PSG will be eager to improve their record in the competition and fulfill their ambitions on the European stage.