It’s still not flamboyant, not even impressive yet, but it’s enough for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the moment. Three days after its defeat in Lisbon at Sporting Portugal (1-2) in the Champions League and before the decisive match against the English Newcastle, the Parisian club, largely overhauled, barely beat the relegated Auxerre (1-0) on Friday January 23 to regain the lead in the Ligue 1 standings in Lens, before Saturday evening’s clash between the Sang et Or and Olympique de Marseille.
Played between two Champions League matches, this meeting of the 19e day was also aimed at dispelling the few doubts that have surrounded Luis Enrique’s team since the start of 2026. Especially before facing Newcastle on Wednesday on the last day of the league phase to grab the top 8 and not play the two play-off matches.
The doubts first surrounded goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who was not decisive on Tuesday in Lisbon, conceding two goals from four shots on target. Friday evening, at the Abbé-Deschamps stadium, the former Lille player was little worried and did not have to work, the Auxerres not having scored any shots and the “repeated” defense aligned (Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez and Illia Zabarnyi) managing to manage the few Auxerre opportunities.
This meeting was also the right time to put away tensions regarding a less effective Parisian attack in recent weeks, apart from the success last Friday against Lille (3-0). But, still with impressive possession (around 70%), the Parisians – facing the low AJA block – once again missed opportunities that they did not miss last spring.
After more than fifteen strikes and 80 minutes of play, they nevertheless opened the scoring with a great inspiration from Ousmane Dembélé who launched Bradley Barcola deep, who managed to deceive Donovan Léon (1-0). Before that, the French striker made a lot of difference without succeeding in his last move (2e51e63e), just like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (4e8e), not dangerous enough.
“He lacks a little confidence”
The entry at the hour mark of Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé did a little good for the PSG attack. Even if Doué confirmed that he was not going through his best period by missing an opportunity that was too easy for his level (76e).
If throughout the press conferences, Luis Enrique wants to dispel doubts by repeating over and over again that his team is doing well, the Spanish coach changed his tune somewhat on Friday evening in Auxerre: “I think it’s very clear, it’s a special moment. We put pressure on Lens, that’s the main thing. But it’s difficult, he lacks a bit of confidence and precision to finish the chances, it was complicated.”
Has concern spread to the ranks of the Parisian staff in recent weeks? “Of course, as a coach when you see that you are losing balls that you normally don’t lose… If we had lost, confidence would have decreased even more”he admitted, admitting to having been relieved after Bradley Barcola’s goal.
Saturday evening, Lens will have to win at the Stade-Vélodrome to regain the leadership seat at the Parisian club which has a two-point lead.
