Lyon 2-3 PSG: Joao Neves wins it late for PSG

PSG returned to the top of the Ligue Un table after an epic last minute win against Olympique Lyonnais at the Groupama Stadium. The Parisians led twice but were pegged back by the persistent hosts before a late winner from Joao Neves saw them finally secure the three points. Lyon ended the game with ten men but proved difficult opponents, and dominated some portions of the game.

Lyon XI: Greif, Kluivert, Mata, Niakhaté, Maitland-Niles, Tessmann, Morton, Tagliafico, Merah (Tolisso), Moreira, Ghezzal (Karabec, 64).

PSG XI: Chevalier, Zaire-Emery, Pacho, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Hernandez (Marquinhos), Vitinha, Neves, Ruiz (Mbaye), Lee, Kvaratskhelia (Ramos, 75), Mayulu (Ndjantou, 66).

PSG move back at the top of Ligue 1

PSG had came into the game in the midst of middling form and of an injury crisis that saw both of their first choice fullbacks (as well as plethora of star attackers) out injured. It was, however, a rare occasion for them to start their first choice midfield three, with Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves both struggling with injuries so far this season but now able to join Vitinha in the starting XI. At fullback, Lucas Hernandez, a natural left back, replaced the injured Nuno Mendes, while natural midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery played right back, having already played there on occasion in the past.

Lyon came into the game on the back of some indifferent form of their own, having failed to win any of their last three games across all competitions, and losing away at Real Betis on Thursday night in the Europa League. They kicked off the game in 6th place, four points behind the Champions who they were hosting. Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca had called on his players to rise to the occasion in arguably the biggest fixture of Lyon’s domestic calendar, in which a win could potentially have kickstarted their season.

The first half started with PSG in control, as the Champions managed to dominate the ball and engage Lyon in a high press that stifled the home team and allowed PSG to dominate the early exchanges. The Parisians only perhaps lacked a real focal point, with Senny Mayulu occupying the central attacking position but failing to make a real impact. In fact it was Warren Zaire-Emery, making a rare foray forwards, who was picked out by a brilliant through ball from Vitinha and who finished with power, firing high above Domink Greif’s head.

The Lyonnais reacted brilliantly to this opener, as what had been a tepid encounter sparked into life. They were unlucky to be denied a penalty when Illia Zabarnyi looked to have handled in the box, and seconds later 20-year-old Alfonso Moreira broke through behind Zaire-Emery and finished with aplomb.

The score wasn’t level for long, as Lyon, who should have been buoyed by their equaliser, immediately conceded a strange goal, as Tanner Tessman was pressed expertly by Vitinha, who knocked the ball into Kvicha Kvratskhelia, who finished clinically into the bottom right corner. Lyon claimed that Tessman had been fouled, but Vitinha looked to have played the ball, and it represented a fine response to the adversity of the Lyon equaliser from PSG.

Lyon nearly punched back again minutes later, as Tessmann’s flick was picked up by Nicolás Tagliafico, whose instinctive volley came off Lucas Chevalier’s post. Lyon continued to push, and PSG would have been relieved to hear the half time whistle while still in front.

This relief was short-lived, however, as less than five minutes into the second half, Tyler Morton picked out former Arsenal full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who scored a quite sensational chip over the head of Lucas Chevalier to level the game. It was a truly glorious finish, as Maitland-Niles managed to swivel and apply his first time finish with an aptitude of that belied his defensive position. There will be questions once again about Chevalier’s positioning, although most of the credit must go to Maitland Niles and the sheer invention of his finish.

PSG managed to weather the storm of the subsequent Lyon press, but failed to really create any opportunities of their own, either. Kang-In Lee (who was excellent all night long) came closest with a driven strike from range that forced Greif to parry for a corner. Enrique introduced Gonçalo Ramos and Ibrahim Mbaye in the search for a spark which could lead to a winner – perhaps inspired by Ramos’ impact off the bench in last week’s last gasp win against Nice.  

It was Lyon, however, who applied the pressure as the clock ticked to 80 minutes, with substitute Corentin Tolisso having a shot from close range charged down by Zabarnyi. Soon after, substitute Marquinhos also was called upon as PSG’s defence was tested again by a dangerous header from the persistent Maitland-Niles. Deep into stoppage time, Tagliafico was sent off for a second yellow card after push on Lee, but it wasn’t too late for PSG to take advantage of their numerical advantage.

For the second week in a row in Ligue Un, PSG won a game deep in stoppage time with a header from a Portuguese player. This week, however, it wasn’t Ramos, but young Joao Neves, making his 35th Ligue un appearance who headed in from a corner, who added to his goal scored in midweek against Bayern Munich with a bullet header from a Kang In Lee corner.

PSG will be delighted with the result, as despite some defensive deficiencies and more question marks around Chevalier, they managed to overcome adversity once again, and it must be noted that this is a side who have suffered a lot through injuries – once again finishing the game with three academy players in the attack. Luis Enrique will be glad that the international break comes now, and will only hope that his players avoid further injury over this period. They now are top of Ligue Un on 27 points, two points ahead of Marseille and Lens. After the break, they will face Le Havre in the league, followed by a Champions League clash against Tottenham Hostpur.