PARIS (AFP) - Moussa Dembele scored and won a penalty as Lyon stunned Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on Sunday (Feb 3) to end the runaway leaders' hopes of an unbeaten Ligue 1 campaign.
Angel di Maria fired PSG into a seventh-minute lead, but Dembele equalised and Nabil Fekir scored the winner from the spot three minutes after half-time.
"I don't know if the defeat was deserved. In the first half it was deserved, but after half-time, we still dominated," said PSG forward Kylian Mbappe.
The reigning champions remain 10 points clear of second-placed Lille at the top of the table despite the defeat, with two games in hand, while Lyon strengthened their grip on third spot, three points further back.
"We did what we had planned, namely high pressing, quick transitions, and to cause them problems every time we had the ball," said Lyon coach Bruno Genesio. "I don't think they're used to that in Ligue 1."
All eyes will now turn to the Champions League for PSG, with only a French Cup tie at third-tier Villefranche and a home game against Bordeaux to come before the last-16, first-leg clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Feb 12.
The English side's caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and assistant Mike Phelan were both in attendance at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday, just hours after their side's 1-0 Premier League win at Leicester.
The pair would have learnt plenty from watching Lyon regularly slice through the PSG defence against seemingly little resistance, while Mbappe shouldered the majority of the attacking responsibility in the absence of the injured Neymar.
"I'm not worried about the Champions League," insisted Mbappe. "We must take it match by match and wait for the Champions League."
On paper, this looked the toughest test remaining for PSG in their bid to go through the league season unbeaten, having won on just two of their previous 13 Ligue 1 visits to Lyon, losing seven.
But Thomas Tuchel's men almost forged ahead inside the first two minutes, as Kylian Mbappe raced clear only to shoot tamely at Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.
The away side did not have to wait long to strike, though, as Houssem Aouar carelessly gifted possession to Julian Draxler, who strode forward and teed up Di Maria to slot in his 10th goal of the season.
Lyon largely dominate
But Lyon, on a six-match unbeaten run in the league themselves, quickly improved and twice wasted clear-cut chances to level, as PSG 'keeper Alphonse Areola denied Bertrand Traore from point-blank range before Dembele nodded wide.
Areola had to be alert again, springing to his right to tip away a vicious long-range drive from Nabil Fekir, before producing a wonderful double stop from Traore and Memphis Depay.
However, just seconds after another excellent save to deny Fekir, Areola was totally at fault for Lyon's 33rd-minute equaliser.
The 25-year-old misjudged Leo Dubois' cross, allowing Dembele the simplest of tasks to head into the net.
PSG almost snatched a half-time lead against the run of play, but Lyon centre-back Jason Denayer made an incredible diving header to keep out Draxler's close-range shot.
Lyon, who face Barcelona in the Champions League knockout stage, continued to dominate after the restart, and were awarded a spot-kick when Dembele was brought down by Thiago Silva, with Fekir doing the rest.
That provoked PSG into life, and Lopes made two brilliant saves from Mbappe in the space of just 20 seconds.
Mbappe was PSG's best hope of salvaging their unbeaten record, but he saw Lopes divert away a low drive, before former Celtic striker Dembele wasted a golden opportunity to wrap up the points as he was again foiled by Areola.
But Lyon held on anyhow, ending their opponents' 21-game unbeaten run in the French top flight.
Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea's trip to Manchester United this weekend is a 'must not lose' fixture. Fourth-placed Chelsea travel to Old Trafford to face sixth-placed United on Sunday, in a clash which could have a huge say on who secures Champions League football for next season.
Sarri: Chelsea cannot lose to United - eurosport.com
Guardiola isn't thinking that far ahead just yet and he urged his players to take it one game at a time. "Liverpool and Man City have done incredible so far so deserve the credit. We will have 80 points with six games to play if we win next week," he said. "We are going to do everything to win.
Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City
desdelabanda.com/2019/04/02/guardiola-salutes-incredible-manchester-city/
You can't have Salah, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane scoring a hat-trick each every weekend, but that just isn't how football works. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Sergio Aguero suffered a knock during his side's 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
100 points: Guardiola salutes incredible Man City - Starr Sports
starrsportsgh.com/2018/05/100-points-guardiola-salutes-incredible-man-city/
Pep Guardiola saluted his "incredible" Manchester City as the champions became the first Premier League side to reach 100 points thanks to a 1-0 win at Southampton on Sunday. Guardiola's team have been focused on rewriting
Football: Barca put one hand on title after edging past
The 48 Best Things To Do in New York with Kids. 1. The Empire State Building. A visit the Empire State Building with its dazzling city views from the 86th floor is a great New York experience, but it can be a hassle without careful planning. You'll have two potential lines to cope with—buying tickets and waiting for the elevator.
nerf vest kids | eBay
'Monday night football' comes to the Emirates Stadium tonight as Arsenal , in search of their 10th successive league home win 2015 Arsenal Aston Villa 4-0. 2014 Arsenal Hull City 3 - 2 aet. C Palace 2 - 3 Arsenal - Match Report & Highlights Crystal Palace 2 - 3 Arsenal : Alexis Sanchez scores twice for Gunners. By James Walker-Roberts.
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Son's Late Winner Gives Tottenham Champions League Edge Over Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min's late goal sealed a 1-0 home victory against Manchester City in an
Son Heung-min's late winner gives Tottenham edge over
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United. Both players have struggled for form for much of the season, with Alexis Sanchez having started just one Premier League match in 2019.
Football: Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with Pochettino You can learn a lot from these difficult moments," Pochettino said. "The conversation (with Son) was not only
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with
Fabio Quagliarella became Italy's oldest goalscorer as his double helped Roberto Mancini's rejuvenated side thrash 10-man Liechtenstein 6-0 in their second Euro 2020 qualifier on Tuesday.
Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash
Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team World Cup in Qatar in favour of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams. Infantino said a decision would be made by March, although it
Soccer: Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team World
260 Director Fas jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Director of Program Management and more! Director Fas Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com Skip to Job Postings , Search Close
'No issue' with faith in youth, Football News & Top Stories
Chelsea face stadium closure as UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings over alleged racist chants is punished with a minimum of a partial stadium closure."
Chelsea facing partial Stamford Bridge closure over racist
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen