Paris Saint-Germain took a big step towards their goal of retaining their French Ligue 1 title by beating second-placed Lens 3-1 at home this Saturday in the star game of matchday 31.
With 72 points, PSG extends its advantage over Lens to nine points, which on Sunday could lose its second place in the standings, since Marseille (3rd) is two points behind and receives the modest Troyes (18th).
After Lens was left with ten men due to the expulsion of Salis Abdul Samed in the 19th minute, PSG imposed their superiority with goals from Kylian Mbappé (minute 31), Vitinha (37) and Lionel Messi (40). The only goal for the visitors was signed from a penalty by Przemyslaw Frankowski (60).
Paris Saint-Germain’s two previous league games at the Parc des Princes had resulted in defeats, against Rennes and Lyon, so this game against Lens, the revelation team of the season, was presented as a real trap.
The red to Salid Abdul Samed in the 19th minute for a stomp on Achraf Hakimi, however, paved the way for the team from the capital.
The first goal of the game came at minute 31, when Mbappé received in the area with his back to the goal and when he turned around he sent a low shot that hit the post and entered the Lens goal. The assistance had been given by the Portuguese Vitinha, who scored the second for PSG in minute 37, with a shot from outside the area.
The third led by Lionel Messi (40), who claimed responsibility after the boos in recent games. He did it in an attack initiated by himself, in which he leaned on Mbappé, who returned it with his heel for the Argentine world champion to score with a cross shot.
In the second half, Frankowski cut back for Lens from a penalty in the 60th minute.
The marker did not move anymore and PSG thus approaches what would be its eleventh title in the French league.
In the scorers’ table, Mbappé has 20 goals and remains the solo leader, now with one more than Canadian Jonathan David, from Lille, and Alexandre Lacazette, from Lyon.
In the other match on Saturday, Rennes moved provisionally to fifth in the standings thanks to a 3-0 home win over eighth-placed Reims.