Lee Kang-in, ‘return to winger’, induces own goal through pressure…PSG wins 3-0 against Marseille in ‘Le Classique’

[사진]OSEN DB.

[사진]OSEN DB.

[OSEN=고성환 기자] Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) played 78 minutes and contributed to the team’s victory.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won 3-0 against Olympique Marseille in ‘Le Classique’ in the 9th round of the 2024-2025 French Ligue 1 held at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France on the 28th (Korean time).

As a result, PSG continued its undefeated streak (7 wins, 2 draws) since the opening game and took the sole lead with 23 points. Marseille, who was chasing PSG by 3 points, remained in 3rd place with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses). AS Monaco (20 points) took second place.

The home team Marseille chose a 4-2-3-1 formation. Eliye Wahi, Luis Henrique, Amin Harit, Mason Greenwood, Adrien Rabiot, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Lilian Brassier, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Leonardo Balerdi, Amir Murillo, and Jerónimo Rulli started as starters.

The away team, PSG, started with a 4-3-3 formation. Bradley Barcola-Ousmane Dembele-Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves-Vitinha-Warren Jair Emery, Nuno Mendes-William Pacho-Marquinhos-Achraf Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made up the starting list.

This is Lee Kang-in, who plays right winger. He has recently been deployed in the center and used as a ‘false number 9 (false nine)’, but this time he mainly played on the side. Perhaps because of the disappointment in the last game against PSV Eindhoven, manager Luis Enrique placed Dembele in the striker position instead of Lee Kang-in.

[사진]OSEN DB.

[사진]OSEN DB.

PSG took the lead 7 minutes into the game. Mendes sent a low cross from the left side of the box, and goalkeeper Luli knocked the ball away. Neves pushed the ball in and scored the first goal.

A large variable occurred. In the 20th minute of the first half, Harit lifted his foot too high while trying to win the ball, and hit Marquinhos in the upper body. The referee declared a direct expulsion. Marseille fought with 10 men for about 70 minutes.

PSG, backed by its numerical superiority, widened the gap. In the 29th minute of the first half, Hakimi crossed toward Lee Kang-in, who was penetrating into the box. Balerdi tried to kick the ball out with his foot, but ended up pushing it into the goal. PSG explained, “Balerdi scored an own goal under pressure from Lee Kang-in.”

PSG soon scored a key goal. In the 40th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in cut off an opponent’s pass mistake in the center and passed to Dembele in front. Dembele dug into the right side of the box and shot, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper. Dembele caught the ball again and sent a ground ball cross to the other side, which was finished by Barcola.

[사진]OSEN DB.

[사진]OSEN DB.

PSG, who made it 3-0, continued to storm in the second half. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Hakimi received the ball given away by Lee Kang-in and crossed. However, Barcola’s shot missed the goal. Marseille tried to counterattack with Rabiot’s shot in the 7th minute of the second half, but it went over the goal line.

PSG, who had won, played the game stably and let the remaining time go by. Lee Kang-in was replaced by Seni Mayulu in the 33rd minute of the second half and retired to the bench. There were no more goals scored. The game ended with PSG’s resounding victory.

It was a one-sided victory. PSG pounded Marseille throughout the game, hitting 19 shots. Marseille conceded a goal from the start and had only one effective shot due to the negative news of being sent off.

Lee Kang-in also showed his presence by inducing an own goal and passing the starting point. According to soccer statistics media ‘Foot Mob’, in 78 minutes, he recorded a pass success rate of 96% (46/48), one opportunity created, a long pass success rate of 100% (1/1), and one successful tackle. The rating was 7.1 points.

/finekosh@osen.co.kr

[사진] PSG social media.

Seonghwan Ko (finekosh@osen.co.kr)