Mbappe tows PSG past Lens
PARIS (AFP) — Kylian Mbappe scored and Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a penalty as Paris Saintgermain surged eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday, Jan. 14, with a 2-0 victory over last season's runners-up Lens.
Bradley Barcola gave PSG the lead with his second goal for the French champions after Donnarumma had kept out an early spot-kick from Przemyslaw Frankowski at the Stade Bollaert.
Mbappe struck a minute from time with his 19th league goal of the season as PSG took full advantage of slip-ups this weekend by Nice and Monaco.
"I was pleased with the whole match, I think my team is competitive each time and today was no exception," said PSG coach Luis Enrique.
"You want madness but I want control."
Lens is a far cry from the team that finished a point behind PSG last term, but its home form remains strong and it had an 11-match unbeaten run snapped just before the winter break.
However their hopes of fighting back suffered a critical blow when Jonathan Gradit was sent off late in the first half following a
VAR review for bringing down Barcola as the last defender.
With the focus intensifying on Mbappe and his future plans, Lens had the chance to strike first as Danilo fouled Elye Wahi inside the area after just five minutes.
Frankowski drilled his kick right down the middle but the giant Donnarumma stayed put and blocked the ball with his knees.
The Italy goalkeeper then batted away a shot from Wahi before excellent defensive work from Danilo helped spring Mbappe to set up Barcola.
Mbappe strode forward and waited patiently to slip Barcola in behind the Lens defense, the young winger clipping an unerring finish past Brice Samba from a tricky angle.
Gradit's red card only added to the challenge for Lens, who threatened intermittently in the second half without unduly troubling Donnarumma.
Mbappe put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute, running onto a pass from Ousmane Dembele and driving low beyond Samba into the far corner.
PSG is eight points clear of Nice, who lost 2-0 at Rennes on Saturday. Brest is another point adrift, while Monaco dropped to fourth after going down 3-1 at home to Reims.
Earlier on Sunday, Brest climbed to third with a 2-0 home victory over Montpellier to continue its surprise push for European football.