After a big win on Saturday at OGC Nice, Paris Saint-Germain have reclaimed the top spot in the championship from Racing club de Lens.
Paris Saint-Germain is back on top. On Saturday evening, the Parisians easily won 4-0 in 11 against 10 on the field of OGC Nice, on the occasion of the 27th day of Ligue 1. This success allows Luis Enrique’s men, who still have one game in hand, to regain the lead in the championship with one point ahead of Lens, before the international break.
A timid first half for Parisians
Absent Achraf Hakimi, who was suspended, and Bradley Barcola and Fabián Ruiz, who were injured, Luis Enrique didn’t make many changes, four days after qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals against Chelsea. While Ousmane Dembélé was on the bench, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Deyversonnho were in attack, with the Georgian in an unusual center-forward position.
The 25-year-old winger seemed to struggle at the start of the match: not knowing where to position himself and receiving little from his teammates. But on his few touches, he was the most dangerous and tested the Nice goalkeeper, Yehvann Diouf, several times (12th, 18th), almost scoring with a header saved miraculously by Juma Bah (36th). The match finally turned in the minutes before half-time, with a penalty awarded for a handball by Morgan Sanson (40th). Nuno Mendes converted the penalty to give PSG the lead at half-time (1-0, 42nd).
Reduced to ten, Nice crumbled
Despite their good intentions, the Aiglons were too limited to worry the European and French champions. After a superb combination between Nuno Mendes and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Portuguese full-back found Deyversonnho who scored with a powerful shot past Yehvann Diouf (49th, 0-2). The beginning of the end for OGC Nice, reduced to 10 players moments later due to a harsh foul by Youssouf Ndayishimiye on Kang-in Lee (61st).
In numerical superiority and with a two-goal lead, PSG could easily manage the end of the match. Luis Enrique was able to give some of his key players a break and offer playing time to others who have struggled in recent weeks, especially Ibrahim Mbaye, Gonçalo Ramos, and especially Dro Fernandez. The winter signing took advantage of the game to score his first goal with the Parisian club, with a splendid action initiated by Vitinha and Ousmane Dembélé (81st, 0-3). A final goal scored a few minutes later by Warren Zaàmacre Emery (85th, 0-4) capped off a perfect evening for PSG.
Thanks to their overwhelming victory, Luis Enrique’s men continue their march forward in the league and regain their leadership, as they have a postponed match against Nantes, and a crucial clash against RC Lens after the international break. For Nice, the fight to avoid relegation in Ligue 1 will continue until the end. In 15th place, the Aiglons are only 5 points ahead of Auxerre. The international break will allow all actors to catch their breath, before the exciting and high-stakes final stretch of the season for both Paris and Nice.
