Published on : 10/09/2020 – 23:15
Paris Saint-Germain suffered their first defeat of the season in Ligue 1 in their first outing, on the field of Lens, in a late match on Day 2. Defending champions, the Parisians, greatly reduced due to several cases of Covid-19 in their workforce, have failed to dominate the promoted.
Decimated by the Covid-19, PSG sank in Lens Thursday, September 10 (1-0) for its start of the season in Ligue 1, the fault of a ball of its third goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel warned: “We don’t expect too much from us”. With this defeat of entry to the promoted, caution was justified. In the absence of seven executives affected by the Covid-19, the German had tenured three young people, the “titis” Arnaud Kalimuendo and Kays Ruiz and the goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
And it was the Polish goalkeeper, the only one to have already played a match in Ligue 1, who caused this defeat. A revival per hour of play in the feet of the Lensois striker Ignatius Ganago (58th), which made the 3,800 spectators of Bollaert rejoice, who seemed much more despite the health measures limiting the crowd in the stadium. Ganago, who had already found the post in the first period (17th), even failed to double the stake in stride, with a plunging head a little too short (63rd).
With a nice midfielder Verratti-Gueye-Herrera and the climbs of Layvin Kurzawa, the Parisians have yet shown an overwhelming domination in possession (78% in the first period). Precise in the passes, the triple reigning French champions sought the loophole, without success, probably seeking to tire the Northerners for the second period.
A big lack in attack
This bis aligned team was certainly missing the titular goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but also the stars in attack Neymar, Mbappé, Icardi and Di Maria. Because neither Pablo Sarabia, nor the two absolute neophytes in L1 Kalimuendo and Ruiz (both 18 years old), were dangerous.
And after the opening of the score of Ganago, the vice-champions of Europe lost ground. While the Lensois, pushed by a 90% empty Bollaert but on fire, felt their wings grow and created new opportunities. Sotoca thus missed a head at close range (79th) on a free kick from Corentin Jean.
The Blood and Gold supporters who found Ligue 1 in their den after nine years in Ligue 2, can rejoice. “The heart of Bollaert is not beating tonight but that of your supporters more than ever,” preached a banner installed in the lower part of the Marek stand, usual haunt of the lensois ultras, completely empty Thursday evening. In a stadium in fusion which intoned in the last minutes “Les Corons” like sold out, the message passed like a letter to the post office.
With AFP
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