Psg Vs Metz: PSG win reclaims Ligue 1 lead as Lens collapse to Monaco (psg vs metz)

Paris Saint-Germain brushed aside struggling Metz 3-0 at the Parc des Princes in a match billed as psg vs metz, moving back to the top of the Ligue 1 table as title rivals Lens slipped to a 3-2 home defeat by Monaco. The result leaves PSG two points clear with 11 games remaining and shifts the race for the title heading into the run-in.

Psg Vs Metz at the Parc des Princes — Doue, Barcola and Ramos finish the job

PSG beat the division's bottom club 3-0, with Desire Doue opening the scoring inside three minutes after being released by Warren Zaire-Emery's pass over the top. Bradley Barcola added a second in first-half stoppage time, finishing from practically on the line after Metz goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer had kept out a Lucas Hernandez header at a corner. Goncalo Ramos completed the scoring inside the final quarter of an hour; he had squandered a chance earlier but still notched what the context states was his 11th goal of the campaign.

Tactical rotation: Luis Enrique rested players and Dembele remained absent

PSG coach Luis Enrique rested several key players for the fixture, and Ousmane Dembele was not involved at all as Paris prepared for the second leg against Monaco this coming Wednesday. Luis Enrique commented on the wider title picture to broadcaster Ligue 1+, saying, "What I think is that Lens are having an incredible season. " He added, "There are still 11 games left and we need to improve yet if we want to retain the title. "

Lens collapse at Stade Bollaert-Delelis as Monaco mount comeback

Lens started the day a point ahead of PSG but surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Monaco, their first home league loss since August. Odsonne Edouard fired in the opener from an Adrien Thomasson lay-off after just three minutes, and Florian Thauvin doubled the advantage on 56 minutes as Pierre Sage's team chased a club record 11th successive home league win. Monaco pulled one back just after the hour through Folarin Balogun — the United States striker's 11th goal of the season in all competitions — and Denis Zakaria equalised before substitute Ansu Fati netted the winner, the third goal in the space of 11 second-half minutes.

Reactions from Lens: disappointment and a call to learn

Manager Pierre Sage lamented the collapse, saying, "That was stupid. We had the victory in our hands. " He added, "We are very disappointed but it is important that we don't play the victim. We need to see this as an experience that will help us grow as a team. " Lens had entered the weekend with the best defensive record in the division, making the turnaround particularly painful.

Table implications: PSG two points clear, Lyon can close the gap

PSG are now two points ahead of Lens with 11 games of the season remaining. The standings also leave Lyon, in third, able to move to within six points of the table-toppers if they win away at Strasbourg on Sunday, shifting pressure across the top of the table as the campaign approaches its final stretch.

Saturday's Ligue 1 previews and wider matchday context

There were three Ligue 1 matches on Saturday, including PSG's home fixture with Metz. Lens welcomed Monaco at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on matchday 23, and Toulouse hosted Paris FC at the Stadium de Toulouse for the first time there since 2022. A 5-0 thumping at Paris FC had lifted Les Sang et Or back into first place, a point above PSG heading into the weekend, while Monaco came into the match eighth after a 3-1 win over Nantes.

Ahead of the round, Toulouse were 10th after a 2-1 loss at Le Havre last Sunday, and Paris FC were 15th after being hammered 5-0 at home by Lens. PSG themselves had been dropped to second by a 3-1 defeat at Rennes, and Metz remained dead last after a 3-1 home loss to Auxerre. Match previews noted that Metz could temporarily climb out of the Ligue 1 basement with a win at the Parc des Princes, but also warned that Metz have too many holes at the back and are often stretched, making a comfortable PSG victory likely even with Paris balancing a midweek Champions League fixture.