Paris Saint-Germain has pitched as rarely this season. At the end of a splendid match, Saturday, December 4, at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium, PSG did very well by snatching the draw (1-1) in the last moments of the meeting thanks to a header from Georginio Wijnaldum (90th + 2), perfectly served by Kylian Mbappé.
Until this saving goal, intervened therefore at the end of the suspense, the PSG had touched the finger a second defeat of the season after that conceded to Rennes during the 9th day (0-2) and Lens a convincing victory at the end of a fierce struggle waged from start to finish of the meeting. The Northerners were better tonight, without a doubt, and after several weeks where they stalled, found their superb Saturday to destabilize a very pale PSG.
They had to wait for the hour of play to finally find the opening, thanks to a long shot from Seko Fofana and the hand error of Keylor Navas (62nd). The Costa Rican goalkeeper, chosen this evening to play when Gianluigi Donnarumma occupied the sidelines, had hitherto been imperial on several Lensoise occasions (24th, 27th, 30th).
Dominated, the Parisians – who started the meeting without Kylian Mbappé, left on the bench at the kickoff – were able to limit the damage and even obtained a few opportunities on flashes with the post touched by Lionel Messi (18th) and strikes which forced Jean-Louis Leca, the goalkeeper of the Sang et Or, to pull out the big game against Angel Di Maria (45 + 1) and Kylian Mbappé (72).
16 – Paris have 16 points after trailing behind this season in Ligue 1, more than any other team in Europe’s top 5. Relentless. #RCLPSG pic.twitter.com/oEACM2IhgU
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 4, 2021
The shivers which crossed on these actions the Bollaert stadium did not bode well and we felt that the Lensois, who spoiled other clear situations (51st, 70th, 78th, 81st), were going to pay dearly. Because PSG is formidable this season in the last moments of a meeting, especially when it finds itself back to the wall. For the fifth time in 17 days, Paris went to seek points at the very end of the match.
Before this point of the draw against Lens, there were victories in the last seconds against Lyon (2-1), Metz (2-1), against Angers (2-1) and against Lille (2- 1). Tonight, there was therefore this flash of genius from Mbappé, this perfect center for the head of Wijnaldum in the very last moments of the match, to come to destroy the hopes of the Lensois and allow PSG to leave with a point of the North.
But beyond the result, we will especially remember the way and the fact that the Paris of Mauricio Pochettino still has no identity and does not know where it is going. Unlike RC Lens, excellent tonight and who can look with pride at the progress made since his victory against a PSG diminished on September 10, 2020 (1-0), at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium already, while the northern club had just come back up. in Ligue 1.
Franck Haise’s players have progressed enormously and now occupy – temporarily – 3rd place in the championship. After several weeks of doubt, Lens continued their sad streak of four games without a win in Ligue 1 with a third draw in a row. After this draw against Paris, the Lensois can be disappointed, but also and above all reassured to see that the club is going in the right direction.