Lens: match notes –

Without shining, PSG conceded a draw in the last minutes against RC Lens and obtained their tenth Ligue 1 crown.

At the Parc des Princes this Sunday, in a rather strange atmosphere, PSG received Lens with the possibility of winning the tenth title of Champion of France in its history in the event of a draw or victory. For this 34th day of Ligue 1, Mauricio Pochettino finally decided to put a team that many supporters were hoping for at the start of the season. A three Ramos-Marquinhos-Kimpembe defense and the Hakimi and Mendes pistons on the sides. Obviously with the trio Mbappé, Messi and Neymar on the attacking front. The Lensois, they bet on Seko Fofana and the Parisian titi Kalimuendo in attack. The Ivorian midfielder also lit the first wick of a dry strike at the entrance to the surface (9th). The Parisians were quick to respond through Hakimi. The Moroccan, much freer on the right lane, stumbled on Jean-Louis Leca (25th) after a dazzling counter-attack. And if the score did not move in the first period, it is also due to the clumsiness of a Kylian Mbappé who missed the target twice (23rd, 31st) or to Navas’ decisive parade in front of Clauss (41st).

Upon returning from the locker room, Neymar’s teammates took control and tried to disrupt a disciplined Lensoise defense. Faced with well-established Lensois, the Parisians even tried to quickly change pace to surprise. And this strategy could have paid off without a miraculous rescue from Wooh (53rd). On a free kick quickly played by Verratti, Mbappé presented himself against Leca and saw his shot being pushed back on his line by the opposing defender. But by dint of dominating, PSG, which was in numerical superiority after the exclusion of Danso (57th), logically ended up scoring thanks to a marvelous goal from Messi. La Pulga unleashed a monumental strike to open the scoring (70th) and allow his team to finally take the lead. The many blunders of the Parisian attackers allowed Lens to believe in it until the end. And as a symbol, in numerical superiority the PSG was taken back. At the end of the game, Corentin Jean snatched the equalizer (89th). PSG is held in check by Lens (1-1) but still celebrates the 10th Ligue 1 title in its history.

The man of the match: Fofana (7.5): the captain of RC Lens, already author of 7 goals in the league, tried a lot to add to his tally, but he lacked a bit of success, as with his shots from a distance, first powerful (7th), then curled (41st) which passed just above the cage of Navas or when Kimpembe countered his attempt at the entrance to the surface (20th). Losing very few balls, he was very important in midfield and in the ball exit. Author of a successful performance until the end, which allowed Lens to snatch the draw.

• Ships (5): despite the good start to the match for the Artésiens, Navas played a rather serene game, where he was able to be vigilant on the two dangerous opposing strikes (32nd, 38th). The rest of the game, the Costa Rican made very few dangerous saves and often made short runs to Ramos and Marquinhos. On Jean’s point-blank goal, he can’t do anything.

• Nuno Mendes (4): the 3-5-2 of RC Lens did not prevent the Portuguese from rising and playing almost as a support for Messi, Neymar and Mbappé. On the other hand, he was not used a lot and only touched 45 balls, without being able to offer the slightest cross, despite some breakthroughs on his lane. Defensively, he recovered two balls, but is completely picked up on Jean’s goal, when he was present in the area, but showed great passivity…

• Kimpembe (6): a complicated start to the match where RC Lens was able to seize its opportunities, like a restless Seko Fofana. But the French international showed great solidity and was valuable with nine balls recovered and two blocked shots, ahead of Fofana (42nd), then Frankowski (63rd), in his own area.

• Ramos (4.5): positioned in the axis of the Parisian three-man defense, the ex-captain of Real Madrid showed himself to be much less in the legs than his two comrades. He showed some approximations in the placement, six lost balls and was warned for a bad gesture (54th). On the offensive level, he is the defender to have shown himself the most and could even have opened the scoring after being served back (66th).

• Marquinhos (5): the captain of PSG delivered a sober match, without making any mistakes and without overdoing it. Aligned on the right of Ramos, the Brazilian did not hesitate to go a little higher than usual and combine with Hakimi. He even tried his luck from a distance, but his shot was deflected by Danso at the last moment (30th). A serious match and a nice comeback in front of Machado to note (76th), who was greeted by the public at the Parc des Princes.

• Hakimi (5): like Nuno Mendes, his opposite counterpart, Hakimi was often very high on the pitch and tried a lot to combine with Neymar and Mbappé. The Moroccan missed his duel in front of Leca (26th) and only tried one cross in this part, which was unsuccessful. Defensively, there is nothing to reproach him for. Replaced by Di Maria (76th).

• Gueye (6): despite the pressure from the Lensois block and an unleashed Fofana, the Senegalese delivered a good defensive performance by recovering four balls in his half of the field, without hesitating to come and help Nuno Mendes on his side. Gueye even created a great opportunity in the center from 25 meters on a low shot from the right foot, captured by Leca (70th). Replaced by Danilo (81st).

• Verratti (5.5): less inspired than usual, the Italian had more difficulty against a perfectly organized northern midfielder. Two balls lost and only two duels won. On the other hand, he was more interesting on the offensive level, often combining in small spaces with Messi and Neymar.

• Neymar (5): the Brazilian made a disastrous start to the match with eleven lost balls in just 35 minutes. Then he showed more accuracy in his passes and in those crosses and only struck once on goal. We could still expect much better from him, but he achieves the essential by shifting Messi on his superb goal.

• Mbappe (3.5): you can’t be at the top every day and there are bound to be days when you don’t. It was this PSG-Lens for Mbappé. The Parisian often made the wrong choices and often preferred to strike from a tight angle, rather than shifting a freer partner. A total of seven shots, for only five on target and twelve lost balls. The native of Bondy will have to move on.

• Messi (7): the more the weeks pass and the more the number 30 of Paris Saint-Germain looks like the one who wore the number 10 for years at FC Barcelona. Much more comfortable in dribbling, he won more duels and seems to find his connection with Neymar as much. We are gradually finding the style of the Pulga, which had evaporated in recent months. Messi could be frustrated at times not to have been served by Mbappé, but he unleashed a clinical curling shot to crucify Leca and open the scoring on a serve from Neymar.

RC Lens

• Leca (5): holder after two games on the bench, the Corsican goalkeeper of RC Lens won his duel with Achraf Hakimi on the ball stung by the Moroccan (26th), was saved on his line by Wooh on Mbappé’s second attempt after a first stung ball (52nd ) and saved the free kick from Messi (60th) before being beaten by the left foot of the Argentinian (68th). He also took a few risks with the ball at his feet.

• Wow (6): the young central defender was pretty good against PSG. Winning many duels and being very clean in the transmissions, he was decisive in his area when he saved his team on the line after the attempt of Mbappé (52nd) and on the start of the action leading to the goal of Corentin Jean in the last few minutes.

• Dance (3): the Austrian central defender was warned very early in the game for contact with Neymar, who did not necessarily deserve the yellow card (8th) then was excluded for a second tackle on the Brazilian which earned him a second yellow card, less questionable than the first (57th). Apart from these two errors, he played a serious match, as when he came back well on Mbappé, who tumbled at full speed in the axis (22nd) and forced the Frenchman to attempt a cross shot from the left complicated (37th), or that he placed his head in opposition on the strike of Marquinhos (29th).

• Grade (6.5): against the big names of the Parisian attackers, the 29-year-old French central defender was the author of a good performance, often serious in his duels as on Mbappé after the pass from Messi (37th), he was also the author of 4 interceptions. Clean in his transmissions, he allowed his team to come out cleanly both in the short game and the long game.

• the Polish left piston was the author of a rather serious encounter, especially defensively. He didn’t hesitate to tackle, and he made many important raises. Also good in the duel, he followed well on the center of Neymar for Ramos (35th). However, he offered little, if anything offensively, not being helped in the second half by the expulsion of Danso. who equalized in the last minutes (88th).

• clauses (5): the neo-French international could have given the advantage to the Sangs et Or shortly before the break, but served in the box, he ensured with the flat foot and the ball ended up easily in the arms of Navas (39th). A little less successful than usual in the centers, like those taken over by Ramos (28th and 49th) or the one a little long for Frankowski. Replaced by Machado (73rd)author of the decisive pass for Corentin Jean from a powerful center (88th).

• Fofana (7.5): see above

• Doucoure (6.5): the young Malian midfielder was invaluable in the Lensois midfield, especially before the exclusion of Danso. Precious to get the ball back, he was good in the long game but also to combine with his partners. His 3 defensive interceptions and his two key offensive passes demonstrate his contribution on both sides of the field.

• Pereira Da Costa (5): the young Portuguese attacking midfielder, aligned for the fifth time in a row in Ligue 1, was the author of a decent match. He was rather concerned in the organization set up by Franck Haise, particularly in the first period. Good in the long game (3/4), he also delivered 3 key passes. Replaced by Ganago (73rd).

• Sotoca (5): as usual, the Lens striker was not stingy in the efforts, since he played many duels, even if he is not always a winner (10/21). However, he did not have a clear chance, his only cross was taken by Ramos (27th) and s shot from afar countered by Kimpembe (49th). Replaced by Said (82nd), author of the penultimate pass on the goal of Jean (88th).

• Kalimuendo (4.5): the young striker, on loan to RC Lens from Paris Saint Germain, had a decent match at the forefront of the northern club’s attack. He won in the duels against the central Parisians and was quite clean in his transmissions. Replaced by Haidara after the expulsion of Danso (61st).