Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) further solidified their dominance in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 victory over struggling Saint-Etienne, extending their lead at the top of the table to a commanding seven points at the halfway mark of the season. Ousmane Dembele spearheaded the Parisian attack, netting twice in the first half. His opening goal was a display of individual brilliance, cutting in from the right flank before unleashing a left-footed strike that found the bottom corner. Dembele doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Achraf Hakimi’s cross struck a Saint-Etienne defender’s arm inside the box, a decision confirmed by VAR. Despite PSG’s early dominance and a disallowed goal for Bradley Barcola, Saint-Etienne managed to pull one back in the second half, ensuring the final scoreline wouldn’t reflect the Parisians’ initial control of the match.
While PSG threatened to overwhelm their opponents in the first half, Saint-Etienne, despite their precarious position in the relegation playoff zone, demonstrated resilience and fought back admirably. Zuriko Davitashvili’s expertly taken free-kick in the 64th minute offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors. The Georgian winger’s effort curled around the PSG wall and nestled into the net, making the scoreline more respectable. However, PSG’s early dominance and two-goal cushion proved sufficient to secure the three points, leaving Saint-Etienne still battling to escape the relegation zone.
This victory highlights PSG’s relentless pursuit of their 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 years. Their win followed Marseille’s 2-1 victory over Rennes, maintaining the seven-point gap between the two clubs. Marseille, under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi, appear to be PSG’s only realistic challengers, with third-placed Monaco trailing by a significant 12 points after a draw with Nantes. The Parisians’ dominant performance against Saint-Etienne further cements their status as the team to beat in Ligue 1.
PSG’s focus is now shifting towards their upcoming Champions League clash against Manchester City. Recognizing the importance of this fixture, manager Luis Enrique opted to rest several key players against Saint-Etienne. Captain Marquinhos was absent from the squad entirely, while players like Willian Pacho, Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Desire Doue started on the bench. This rotation provided opportunities for players like Lucas Hernandez, making his first start of the season after recovering from injury, and 18-year-old prospect Senny Mayulu.
The match against Saint-Etienne also served as an opportunity for new Saint-Etienne coach Eirik Horneland to build on their recent victory against Reims. Despite their spirited performance, particularly in the opening minutes and with Davitashvili testing Gianluigi Donnarumma, Saint-Etienne ultimately succumbed to PSG’s superior firepower. Their previous away defeats this season, including heavy losses of 8-0, 5-0, and 4-0, underscore the challenges faced by the club. While the goal against PSG offered a moment of respite, their position remains precarious, with only the bottom two teams, Le Havre and Montpellier, below them in the standings.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Le Havre suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Lens, despite taking the lead through Andre Ayew. Lens secured the victory thanks to goals from debutant Goduine Koyalipou and Deiver Machado. Bottom-placed Montpellier’s woes continued with a 3-1 home loss to Angers, further compounded by two red cards. Esteban Lepaul’s brace proved decisive for Angers. In another match, Emanuel Emegha’s two goals propelled Strasbourg to a 2-1 win against Toulouse. These results further shape the evolving landscape of Ligue 1 as the season progresses towards its second half.
