Slowed down in their last two league games against Lorient then Lyon (1-1 each time), Paris-Saint-Germain signed a serious success against Brest (2-0), Saturday January 15, at the Parc des Princes, during the 21and Ligue 1 day.
Still deprived of Lionel Messi, who is recovering from the Covid, and of Keylor Navas, who tested positive in the morning, Paris was able to count on Kylian Mbappé and Gianluigi Donnarumma to consolidate its place as leader, one month before the huge meeting. Champions League against Real Madrid. The Parisians are still 11 points ahead of Nice, winner the day before Nantes at the Allianz Riviera (2-1).
But Paris was first shaken up by people from Brest without complexes, like Franck Honorat and Irvin Cardona. On a point-blank shot from the latter (9and), Donnarumma had to pull off an impressive parade to save his cage. Mbappé left Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot frozen on his line by firing a low shot, post returning, for the opener (1-0, 32and). The child of Bondy has increased his personal counter to 19 goals in 27 matches over the current financial year, including 10 units in L1, picking up two lengths from Lille Jonathan David.
In the second half, Thilo Kehrer, who had already equalized against Lyon last Sunday (1-1), doubled the lead after a number in the box from Nuno Mendes (2-0, 53and).
“We might have liked to win with a bigger gap, admitted Paris coach Mauricio Pochettino. Every match, every competition is different. But the second period can help us to have more confidence. »
Highlight of the evening: Sergio Ramos, entered at 72and, played his first minutes as a PSG player on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. The ex-Real Madrid defender’s three previous appearances in all competitions have been away from home. The only downside is the injury-free exit of Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, replaced at half-time.
Saint-Etienne is not doing well
Lens ruined the hopes of victory of the red lantern Saint-Etienne. Pascal Dupraz’s team, diminished by the absences linked to the Covid and the CAN, nevertheless believed they had their third success of the season, the first for two months.
A goal from Ryad Boudebouz first came to reward a first period dominated by the Greens. The attacking midfielder, aligned in false 9, opened the scoring just before the break by concluding a counter flash with a good recovery, after a service from Adil Aouchiche (1-0, 38and).
But the incoming Lensois Florian Sotoca deceived the new Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni, on loan from Angers, with an uncrossed header (1-1, 77and), on a cross from Jonathan Clauss, the best passer in the championship with nine offerings.
Already a hero of the Sang et Or in the stunning match against Lille at Bollaert in the Coupe de France on January 4, Seko Fofana offered victory to his team in added time with a superb curling shot (2-1, 90 + 5). Franck Haise’s team continues after its success against Rennes (1-0) and temporarily climbs to 4and place, three points behind Marseille and the podium.
With a sixth defeat in a row, Saint-Etienne remains stuck in last place. But Dupraz did “not seen a formation that abdicated”. “We will move towards better days if we keep these attitudes but we have to act quickly”, insisted the coach who arrived in mid-December at the bedside of the Greens. The next opponent of Saint-Etienne is none other than the historical and geographical rival, Olympique Lyonnais, Friday January 21.