Paris Saint-Germain moved eight points ahead of second-placed Lens with a 2-0 win against Lens on Sunday. Kylian Mbappe scored and Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a penalty.
After Donnarumma saved an early penalty attempt from Przemyslaw Frankowski at the Stade Bollaert, Bradley Barcola gave PSG the lead with his second goal for the French champions.
Mbappe scored his 19th league goal of the season a minute from time as PSG took advantage of Nice and Monaco’s mistakes this weekend.
“I was pleased with the entire game; I believe my team is competitive every time, and today was no exception,” PSG coach Luis Enrique stated.
“You want madness but I want control.”
Lens are a long cry from the squad that finished a point behind PSG last season, but their home record remains excellent, despite losing an 11-match undefeated streak just before the winter break.
However, their chances of coming back were dashed when Jonathan Gradit was sent off late in the first half after a VAR review for pulling down Barcola as the last defender.
With all eyes on Mbappe and his future intentions, Lens had the opportunity to score first when Danilo fouled Elye Wahi inside the area after just five minutes.
The huge Donnarumma stood put and stopped the ball with his knees as Frankowski hammered his kick straight down the center.
The Italy goalkeeper then saved a Wahi attempt before Danilo’s outstanding defensive work helped unleash Mbappe to set up Barcola.
Mbappe advanced and calmly waited for Barcola to slide in behind the Lens defense, the teenage winger flicking an accurate finish past Brice Samba from a tight angle.
Gradit’s dismissal increased the difficulty for Lens, who threatened occasionally in the second half but failed to trouble Donnarumma.
Mbappe put the game out of reach in the 89th minute, latching onto an Ousmane Dembele cross and blasting low past Samba into the far corner.
Nice, which fell 2-0 at Rennes on Saturday, is eight points behind PSG. Brest fell another point behind, while Monaco fell to fourth after losing 3-1 at home to Reims.
Brest is becoming more common.
Brest rose to third place earlier on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over Montpellier, continuing their surprising drive for European football.
Hugo Magnetti scored immediately after halftime in Brittany, and substitute Jeremy Le Douaron scored in stoppage time to give Eric Roy’s team its sixth victory in seven games.
They have risen above Monaco and are now guaranteed a place in the Champions League.
“We’re in a good spot right now, and we need to take advantage of it.” “We all know that in football, things happen very quickly, one way or another,” Roy, a former Sunderland midfielder, stated.
Lille defeated Lorient 3-0, with to goals from Jonathan David, Remy Cabella, and Edon Zhegrova. Clermont’s 2-1 win against Nantes sent Lorient to the bottom of the standings.
Toulouse won just their third game of the season, 1-0 against Metz, putting Lyon in the relegation play-off zone after losing 3-1 at Le Havre.
Le Havre took the lead via Gautier Lloris, the brother of former France goalkeeper Hugo, with Emmanuel Sabbi and Christopher Operi scoring each side of a goal from Alexandre Lacazette.
Lyon saw Jake O’Brien sent off in the first half and ended with nine men, while Duje Caleta-Car also saw red, ending their mini-revival after starting 2023 with three straight victories.