(Football news) Surprise title contenders Lens beat Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 on Sunday to give the defending champions their first league loss of the season which meant that Lens narrowed the gap at the top. PSG were without their Brazilian star Neymar, who was suspended after being sent off against Strasbourg on Wednesday, and Lionel Messi is still on leave after continuing his post-World Cup recovery. The result meant that Christophe Galtier’s side are on 44 points from 17 games which is four points ahead of Lens in second.
The hosts went in front and took an early lead after five minutes when a deflection from PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma fell to an unmarked Przemyslaw Frankowski, who easily volleyed the ball into the open net. Hugo Ekitike equalised for PSG three minutes later when the striker reached an inch perfect from Mukiele cross before Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba as the French striker tapped the ball in.
Lens in form forward Lois Openda restored his side’s lead in the 28th minute when he got a brilliant through ball from Seko Fofana as he ran into the box, where he beat Marquinhos before finishing into the lower-right corner of the goal. Lens striker Alexis Claude-Maurice made it three for the surprise title contenders, two minutes into the second half to seal a historic win over the defending champions. PSG star Kylian Mbappe was kept quiet the entire match as it looks like the hectic schedule is affecting his physical aspect of the game as the league’s top scorer with 13-goals only mustered a speculative shot in the 60th minute.
“I struggled to recognize my team. We lacked solidarity and we got wiped out the more the game went on, leaving them far too much room,” Galtier said. “In fact, we did the opposite of what we should have. We struggled against Lens’ pressing, we should have played more long passes to make them defend deeper.
“Athletically, we dominated. They are two great players who make the difference, but that is not an excuse,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “We lacked cohesion, efficiency and intensity.”
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