Kylian Mbappe’s struggles were on full display as second placed Lens secured a 3-1 victory over Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). With the absence of star players Lionel Messi and Neymar, all eyes were on Mbappe to deliver for his team. However, the young striker found himself consistently shut down by a tough Lens defense, resulting in a frustrating outing for him.
The match got off to a fast start with Lens taking the lead in the first five minutes, thanks to a well-struck volley by Przemyslaw Frankowski. PSG responded quickly, with Hugo Ekitike pouncing on a loose ball and finishing with a tight angle shot to level the score. The hosts regained the lead shortly after, with Lois Openda beating two defenders and sneaking the ball past goalkeeper Donnarumma to complete a fluid counter attack.
Mbappe, who had been a constant threat for PSG in previous matches, found himself unable to get involved in the game. He was constantly hounded by the Lens defense, and any time he managed to get the ball, he was quickly swarmed by opponents. One particularly frustrating moment came when Mbappe tried to turn and spin past several defenders at the top of the 18-yard box, only to lose possession due to the opposition’s pressure. He walked away in frustration as Lens regained control of the ball.
In the second half, Lens continued to press their advantage, with Massadio Haidara dispossessing Fabian in front of the PSG goal before setting up a backheeled pass from Openda to Alexis Claude, who easily converted for the third goal. Despite several substitutions by PSG manager Christophe Galtier, the replacements were unable to provide a spark and the team fell to a convincing defeat. The loss narrows PSG’s lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table to just four points, while Lens will be looking to build on this victory as they chase the title.