Messi and Mbappé score, PSG beats Lens and opens nine points at the top of the French

This Saturday, the Paris Saint Germain received Lens in duel of leaders in Championship French. For the 31st round, the teams faced each other at the Parc des Princes, in Paris (FRA), and the hosts won 3-1, with goals from Mbappé, Vitinha and Lionel Messi. Frankowski, from the penalty spot, decreased for the visitors, who had Abdul Samed expelled in the first half.

Thus, PSG opens up even more advantage in the dispute for the national title. Now, the team has 72 points and is nine ahead of the opponent. In addition, it ended a streak of four consecutive victories for the Lens team.

Current champion, the Parisian club seeks the 11th title in its history to isolate itself as the biggest winner of the competition.

In the next round, therefore, PSG will visit Angers, at 4 pm (Brasília time) on Friday, at Stade Raymond Kopa, in Angers (FRA). The following afternoon, also from 4 pm, Lens will receive Monaco, at the Stade Félix-Bollaert, in Lens (FRA).

PSG’s goals against Lens

With only the French Championship to play until the end of the 2022/23 season, PSG started the game on top to seek the result in front of their fans. In the 18th minute, defensive midfielder Abdul Samed stepped on Hakimi’s ankle to kill the counterattack and received a straight red card, making life easier for the home team in the match.

At 30 minutes, after triangulation with Messi and Vitinha, Mbappé received the Portuguese midfielder at the entrance of the area and kicked in the left corner of goalkeeper Samba to open the scoring in the Parque dos Príncipes.

Six minutes later, Vitinha received it in the middle after a short corner kick, advanced and hit hard, from the half moon, to increase the lead on the scoreboard.

Even before the end of the first half, at 39, it was Lionel Messi’s turn to score. The Argentine playmaker dribbled the marker in the middle and played for Mbappé, who returned with a heel in the area for the number 30 to kick with the first cross and score the third for PSG.

On the way back from the break, in the 12th minute, Fabián Ruiz tried to ward off a corner kick in the area, but ended up heading the ball into his own arm. The referee then signaled the maximum penalty, confirmed by VAR. In the collection, the lateral Frankowski dislocated Donnarumma and diminished for the Lens.

🔚 Game over at the Parc! Huge win over second place! 💪

⚽ @KMbappe
⚽ @vitinha
⚽ Messi#ICICESTPARIS ❤💙#Ligue1 | #PSGRCL 3⃣x1⃣ pic.twitter.com/QahZHcwGq3

— Paris Saint Germain (@PSGbrasil) April 15, 2023

Rennes beats Reims and enters the European competition zone

In the other clash this Saturday in the French Championship, Rennes beat Reims by 3-0, at home. The goals of the game were scored by Jérémy Doku (twice) and Arthur Theate.

With the result, the home team reached 53 points and rose to fifth place – the classification zone for the Conference League playoffs. On the other hand, Reims are suffering the second game in a row without a victory and remain in eighth place, with 57 goals.

Rennes returns to the field now on Sunday (23), at 12:05 pm (Brasília time), to face Montpellier, away from home. Earlier, from 8 am, Reims will receive Strasbourg, in front of their fans.