PARIS (AP) – Ángel di María managed the play of the tying goal on Friday and scored the goal that meant the victory of Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 over the defending champion Lille, so that the capital’s team consolidated itself as a leader in the French league .
PSG now have a 10-point lead.
Canadian forward Jonathan David gave Lille the lead with a first-intention shot in the 31st minute, but Argentine Di Maria made the difference in the complement.
He first delivered a pass to Brazilian Marquinhos, who volleyed about 20 feet from goal in the 74th minute. At 88, Di María played a wall with another Brazilian, Neymar, before finishing low.
Lionel Messi was in doubt due to a slight muscle problem. However, he played from the start for PSG.
The Argentine star had trouble playing the role of false nine. He sent a volley deflected after a Di María cross in the 30th minute and was replaced by another compatriot, Mauro Icardi, at half-time.
Lille dominated the first half, generating three big chances for just one from decimated PSG, which was lacking several players. The visitors threatened in the first minute, with a quick counterattack.
Jonathan Ikone edged out Presnel Kimpembe and struck a low cross for Burak Yilmaz, whose shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
At 14 minutes, Yilmaz found Ikone, but the Lille winger missed his 12-meter shot, blocked by defender Thilo Kehrer.
The monarch opened the scoring at 31, when he came out playing from behind and made a change of game from right to left, where Yilmaz eluded Kehrer and served diagonally behind David, who inadvertently sent the ball to the corner.
David, who was already the season’s top scorer in the French league, raised his bill to eight goals.
The only good chance for the Parisians in the first half came from a series of passes. Georginio Wijnaldum supplied Di Maria, whose warped shot went wide, almost without angle, in the 40th minute.
Lille had opportunities to extend the lead after the break. But Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino sniffed out the danger and made a key change.
He ordered Kehrer and Juan Bernat to be replaced respectively by Colin Dagba and Nuno Mendes in the 65th minute.
Di María was PSG’s biggest threat, forcing goalkeeper Ivo Grbic to deflect a long-range shot in the 59th minute.
At 73, he crossed for Icardi, who finished over the crossbar. And a minute later, the assistance came for Marquinhos to equalize.
PSG finished stronger. Neymar left Icardi alone with a filtered pass in the 85th minute, but Grbic saved with one leg. The Brazilian star once again showed his precise touch, after receiving a pass from Di María in the area, controlling with one foot and returning the Argentine, who finished low so that PSG kept their perfect record at home.
Les Parisiens have won all their matches at the Parc des Princes in the various competitions this season.
PSG lacked Achraf Hakimi and Marco Verratti, both suspended, as well as the injured Sergio Ramos and Leandro Paredes.
Due to an infection, Kylian Mbappé was also absent.
This Saturday, Lens, who is second, visits Lyon, while Metz will host the bottom Saint-Etienne.
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