After two unsuccessful matches in Ligue 1, Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG returned to victory on Saturday January 15 against Brest at the Parc des Princes, a match counting for the 21e Ligue 1 day. Kylian Mbappé, scorer, and his teammates won 2-0. The second scorer of the evening is Thilo Kehrer. Earlier, Lens had temporarily climbed to fourth place after his victory on the wire in Saint-Étienne (2-1).
Still deprived of Lionel Messi, who is recovering from the Covid, and of Keylor Navas, tested positive in the morning, Paris was able to count on Kylian Mbappé and Gianluigi Donnarumma to consolidate its position as leader. A good omen one month before the clash against Real Madrid in the Champions League. The Parisians are still 11 points ahead of Nice, winner the day before Nantes at the Allianz Riviera (2-1). But Paris was first shaken up by people from Brest without complexes, like Franck Honorat and Irvin Cardona. On a point-blank shot from the latter (9e), Donnarumma had to pull off an impressive parade to save his cage.
Mbappé left Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot frozen on his line by firing a low shot, post returning, for the opener (1-0, 32e).
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Shortly after his goal, the French international striker was irritated by the refereeing after a collision with a Brestois and a yellow card. In the second half, Thilo Kehrer, who had already equalized against Lyon last Sunday (1-1), doubled the lead after a number in the box from Nuno Mendes (2-0, 53e). Highlight of the evening: Sergio Ramos, entered at 72e, played his first minutes as a PSG player on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. The ex-Real Madrid defender’s three previous appearances in all competitions have been away from home. The only downside is the injury-free exit of Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, replaced at half-time.Lens stuns the Greens
Lens ruined the hopes of victory of the red lantern Saint-Étienne. Pascal Dupraz’s team, diminished by the absences linked to the Covid and the CAN, nevertheless believed they had their third success of the season, the first for two months. A goal from Ryad Boudebouz first came to reward a first period dominated by the Greens. The attacking midfielder, aligned in false 9, opened the scoring just before the break by concluding a counter flash with a good recovery, after a service from Adil Aouchiche (1-0, 38e). But the incoming Florian Sotoca deceived the new Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni with an uncrossed header (1-1, 77e), on a cross from Jonathan Clauss, the best passer in the championship (9).
Already a hero of the Sang et Or during the stunning match against Lille at Bollaert in the Coupe de France on January 4 (2-2, 4-3 on pens), Seko Fofana offered victory to his team in added time with a superb curled shot (2-1, 90e+5). Franck Haise’s team continues after its success against Rennes (1-0) and temporarily climbs to 4th place, three points from the podium.
With a sixth defeat in a row, Saint-Étienne remains stuck in last place. But Dupraz did “not see a formation that abdicated”. “We will go to better days if we keep these attitudes, but we have to act quickly,” insisted the coach arrived at. mid-December at the bedside of the Greens. The 21e day continues Sunday with in particular a clash in the evening between Marseille (3e) and the reigning French champion, Lille (10e).
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