Kylian Mbappe, who had made a notable impact as a substitute the previous weekend, was reinstated in PSG's starting lineup, forging a dynamic trio up front alongside Ousmane Dembele and Marcos Asensio. Regrettably, PSG had to contend with the absence of their defensive stalwarts – Juan Bernat, Presnel Kimpembe, and Nuno Mendes – all sidelined due to injuries. The recent acquisitions, Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos, were also unfortunate absentees.
Despite grappling with a defeat in their preceding match, Franck Haise opted to entrust the same starting eleven with the task at hand. This selection included Florian Sotoca as the spearhead of the attack. The much-discussed signing, Elye Wahi, remained on the substitutes' bench, while the unavailability of key players like Jimmy Cabot, Wuilker Farinez, and Wesley Said, due to injuries, posed an additional challenge. Neil El Aynaoui's suspension further compounded Lens's lineup constraints. Medina etched his name into the referee's book for his robust body-check on Dembele along the touchline.
In a crucial moment, Samba, Lens's goalkeeper, emerged as the savior, thwarting Mbappe's close-range shot near the near post. Dembele had orchestrated the opportunity with a perfectly timed pass, but the precision was marginally amiss, limiting Mbappe's shooting angle. Mbappe's subsequent volley, launched from the left side of the penalty area, was deflected and dramatically cleared off the goal-line by Danso. Samba's acrobatic save from the ensuing corner-kick showcased his agility, as the ball almost eluded him, threatening the top corner.
Sotoca's plight was twofold: after a period of receiving medical attention on the turf, he found himself brandishing a yellow card for an overly zealous tackle on Ugarte, indicative of the challenge's excessive nature.
Asensio's moment of brilliance transpired when he collected a pass from Zaire-Emery just outside the Lens penalty area. With a measured step to compose himself, he meticulously curled the ball into the bottom-right corner, rendering Samba's efforts futile. This exquisite strike materialized just prior to the halftime whistle, altering the scoreline to read Paris 1-0 Lens.
In a narrative befitting of a star's return, PSG's preeminent striker, who had been embroiled in a transfer standoff, etched his presence on the scoresheet. Mbappe orchestrated a seamless exchange of passes with Hernandez, culminating in a deft side-footed finish from close quarters that left Samba helpless and accentuated Paris's lead to 2-0.
Mbappe remained at the epicenter of PSG's offensive prowess, capitalizing on Fabian Ruiz's assist from the right side of the penalty area. Despite encountering a couple of deflections, Mbappe's shot exhibited tenacity, ultimately nestling into the bottom-left corner. This symbolic victory marked not only PSG's triumphant outing but also the resurgence of their talismanic figure.
In the twilight moments of added time, Lens managed to claw back a measure of dignity. Sotoca's adept cutback from the right byline found its way to Guilavogui, whose shot, taking a deflection en route, bested Donnarumma at the near post. The scoreboard now read 3-1, with Paris Saint-Germain retaining the upper hand.
Kylian Mbappe's two decisive goals in the latter half secured PSG's inaugural triumph of the 2023-24 season. Amidst a spirited challenge from the resolute away side, PSG orchestrated a symphony of possession dominance and exploited their opportunities with aplomb post halftime. As the final whistle resonated, Lens remained ensnared with a solitary point, while Paris celebrated their overdue ascent to the winner's podium.
Worderful progress , keep it up👍
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