PSG retakes French league lead with win over Metz

Desire Doué (3'), Bradley Barcola (45+3') and Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos (77') scored the goals for the capital club.

PSG moved to 54 points, regaining first place, two points ahead of surprise team Lens, who lost 2-3 at home to Monaco.

pre-champions league clash boost

The win comes ahead of PSG's return leg against Monaco on Wednesday at Parc des Princes in the Champions League round of 16, where they aim to confirm their 3-2 first-leg win in the Principality.

Spanish coach Luis Enrique made seven changes to his starting lineup compared to the midweek continental match, while last year’s world’s best player, Ousmane Dembélé, was absent after leaving the first half of the Monaco game injured.

early dominance and clinical finishing

PSG took just three minutes to open the scoring after Warren Zaïre-Emery played a through ball to Doué, who went one-on-one with Danish goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer and scored.

The capital club doubled their lead before half-time when Kang-In Lee delivered a dangerous corner, Lucas Hernández rose for a header that Fischer brilliantly deflected onto the near post, but Ramos reacted fastest to pass across the goal to Barcola, who tapped in from close range (45+3').

Ramos then sealed the scoring with a thunderous strike from inside the box (77').

lens squander lead against monaco

Lens relinquished the top spot after losing a two-goal lead at home to Monaco (2-3). Odsonne Edouard scored early (3'), followed by Florian Thauvin doubling the advantage at the start of the second half (56'), seemingly on course for three points.

Monaco responded when American Florian Balogun scored (63'), and then turned the match around within two minutes: Denis Zakaria headed in (70'), followed by a stunning chip from Ansu Fati (72').

The Principality club now have 34 points in sixth place, keeping their hopes alive of securing a Champions League qualification spot.