RC Lens inflicted Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) their first defeat of the season, three goals to one, and consolidated their second place to four points behind the Parisian leader, Sunday 1er January at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium, during the 17e Ligue 1 day.
The Sang et Or, whose it is the ninth victory of the season at home in as many games, scored through Przemyslaw Frankowski (5e), Lois Openda (28e) and Alexis Claude-Maurice (47e). Very disappointing, PSG, deprived of Neymar and Lionel Messi, scored by Hugo Ekitike (8e), for the 400e by Marco Verratti in the colors of Paris.
With in particular a magnificent match by Loïs Openda, Franck Haise’s team, which was living its 100e match on the Lensois bench, deserved its victory, in an incandescent Bollaert stadium. Lens is also taking advantage of this prestigious success to extend its lead over Olympique de Marseille to seven points (3e), who plays in Montpellier on Monday. Above all, Racing finds itself well and truly in the race for a second championship title, after that of 1998.
PSG are still ahead, but this first defeat in all competitions since March 20, 2022 (3-0 in Monaco) revealed flaws, especially in defense, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma appeared feverish. This time Kylian Mbappé, long acclaimed by Bollaert in the warm-up, could not save his team, as against Strasbourg on Wednesday, where he snatched victory (2-1) at the last second.