Kylian Mbappe scored and Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a penalty as Paris Saint-Germain surged eight factors clear on the high of Ligue 1 on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over final season’s runners-up Lens. Bradley Barcola gave PSG the lead along with his second objective for the French champions after Donnarumma had saved out an early spot-kick from Przemyslaw Frankowski on the Stade Bollaert. Lens are a far cry from the group that completed some extent behind PSG final time period, however their dwelling type stays robust they usually had an 11-match unbeaten run snapped simply earlier than the winter break.

However their hopes of preventing again suffered a vital blow when Jonathan Gradit was despatched off late within the first half following a VAR evaluation for bringing down Barcola because the final defender.

With the main focus intensifying on Mbappe and his future plans, Lens had the prospect to strike first as Danilo fouled Elye Wahi inside the world after simply 5 minutes. 

Frankowski drilled his kick proper down the center however the big Donnarumma stayed put and blocked the ball along with his knees. 

The Italy goalkeeper then batted away a shot from Wahi earlier than glorious defensive work from Danilo helped spring Mbappe to arrange Barcola.

Mbappe strode ahead and waited patiently to slide Barcola in behind the Lens defence, the younger winger clipping an unerring end previous Brice Samba from a difficult angle.

Gradit’s crimson card solely added to the problem for Lens, who threatened intermittently within the second half with out unduly troubling Donnarumma.

Mbappe put the end result past doubt within the 89th minute, working onto a move from Ousmane Dembele and driving low past Samba into the far nook.

PSG are eight factors away from Nice, who misplaced 2-0 at Rennes on Saturday. Brest are one other level adrift, whereas Monaco dropped to fourth after taking place 3-1 at dwelling to Reims.

Brest on the rise

Earlier on Sunday, Brest climbed to 3rd with a 2-0 dwelling victory over Montpellier to proceed their shock push for European soccer.

Hugo Magnetti opened the scoring simply after half-time in Brittany and substitute Jeremy Le Douaron struck in stoppage time to seal a sixth win in seven video games for Eric Roy’s aspect.

They moved above Monaco and to inside some extent of Nice after each these sides misplaced on Saturday, and sit in an automated Champions League qualification spot.

“We’re going through a good patch, we have to make the most of it. We know in football things happen very quickly, one way or another,” mentioned Roy, the one-time Sunderland midfielder.

Lille eased to a 3-0 win over Lorient with targets from Jonathan David, Remy Cabella and Edon Zhegrova. Clermont’s 2-1 victory at Nantes pushed Lorient to the foot of the desk.

Toulouse picked up solely their third win of the season after beating Metz 1-0, leaving Lyon within the relegation play-off spot after they misplaced 3-1 at Le Havre.

Gautier Lloris, the brother of former France goalkeeper Hugo, put Le Havre forward with Emmanuel Sabbi and Christopher Operi hanging both aspect of a objective from Alexandre Lacazette.

Lyon had Jake O’Brien despatched off within the first half and completed with 9 males as Duje Caleta-Car additionally noticed crimson, their mini-revival abruptly halted after ending 2023 with three wins in a row.

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