Ligue 1 Round-Up: PSG Survive Lyon Scare As Marseille And Lens Keep Pace

‎Paris Saint-Germain continued their knack for late drama with a second successive stoppage-time winner, edging Lyon 3-2 in a thrilling Matchday 12 encounter on Sunday to stay two points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

‎Neves the Hero as PSG Strike Late Again

‎Midfielder João Neves scored the decisive goal deep into added time, heading home from close range five minutes into stoppage time to seal the points for PSG. The winner mirrored last week’s dramatic finale against Nice, when Gonçalo Ramos had also struck in stoppage time.

‎Deprived of key players Ousmane Dembélé (calf), Achraf Hakimi (ankle), Nuno Mendes (knee), and youngster Désiré Doué (thigh) PSG again had to improvise.

‎Teenage midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery filled in at right-back and made an early impact, blasting home an angled drive in the 26th minute to open the scoring.

‎Lyon quickly replied through Afonso Moreira, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Zaïre-Emery. But Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, deployed as an emergency striker, restored PSG’s advantage seven minutes later after pouncing on a misplaced pass from Tanner Tessmann.

‎After halftime, Lyon levelled again via former Arsenal full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who executed a stunning 25-metre lob over Lucas Chevalier.

‎However, Lyon’s hopes of a comeback evaporated when Nicolás Tagliafico was sent off late on, collecting a second yellow card in stoppage time. From the ensuing corner, Neves met a delivery at the near post to snatch the win.

‎The result keeps PSG two points ahead of second-placed Marseille and third-placed Lens, who are separated by goal difference.

‎Injury Woes Mount for Luis Enrique

‎The triumph came at a cost for PSG, whose injury list continues to grow. Nine players have suffered fitness setbacks since August, with Dembélé and Doué each enduring two separate absences.

‎“It’s never easy when you’re missing so many players, but the group showed character and refused to give up,” Enrique said post-match.

‎Strasbourg Punish Giroud’s Error to Climb to Fourth

‎Elsewhere, Strasbourg climbed provisionally into fourth place after a 2-0 home win over Lille, aided by a rare mistake from veteran striker Olivier Giroud.

‎The France all-time leading scorer mis-hit a back-pass straight into the path of Emmanuel Emegha, who rounded off the chance for his second of the night. Emegha had earlier put Strasbourg ahead in the 33rd minute by diverting a Diego Moreira cross into the net with his knee.

‎Metz Extend Revival, Nice Stumble

‎Metz made it three straight victories after a dreadful start to the season, beating Nice 2-1 at home.

‎Winger Mohamed-Ali Cho had given Nice the lead with a crisp finish in the 35th minute, but Metz captain Gauthier Hein levelled from the penalty spot before Habib Diallo sealed the comeback late on.

‎The win lifts Metz away from the relegation zone.

‎Lorient, Angers Earn Valuable Points

‎In other Sunday fixtures, Lorient drew 1-1 with Toulouse thanks to Pablo Pagis’ first-half penalty, while veteran Djibril Sidibé equalised from the spot for the visitors.

‎Angers, meanwhile, continued their steady form with a 2-0 home win against bottom-placed Auxerre. An own goal from Fredrik Oppegard broke the deadlock before substitute Peter Prosper made sure of the points late on.

‎Marseille and Lens Apply Pressure

‎On Saturday, Marseille eased past Brest 3-0 to briefly move top on goal difference, as English duo Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood starred.

‎Gomes opened the scoring with a direct free kick, his third goal of the season, before Greenwood converted a penalty after Igor Paixão was fouled. Veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a third from Matt O’Riley’s cross in the 82nd minute.

‎Lens matched Marseille’s tally with a resounding 4-1 victory away to Monaco, featuring a brace from Wesley Saïd.

‎Odsonne Édouard and Mamadou Sangaré were also on target for Lens, while Monaco’s Folarin Balogun scored from the penalty spot before being sent off for a reckless challenge moments later.

‎Lloris Rescues Le Havre

‎In another dramatic finish, Le Havre earned a 1-1 draw against Nantes courtesy of a stoppage-time header from Gautier Lloris, younger brother of France legend Hugo Lloris. Nantes had led since the fourth minute through Mathis Abline, but were denied late on.

‎Table As it stands

‎After Matchday 12:

‎1. Paris Saint-Germain – 27 pts

‎2. Marseille – 25 pts (GD +12)

‎3. Lens – 25 pts (GD +11)

‎4. Strasbourg – 22 pts