Lens vs PSG

Paris Saint-Germain will hope to stave off second-place Lens, who sit just eight points behind them in second place. The two sides will meet for their ...

Their last meeting came in April of last season, which resulted in a 1-1 draw with Messi scoring the lone goal for the Parisians. Marquinhos scored their first goal, then was credited with an own goal in the second half to bring the match back on level footing. The two sides will meet for their Matchday 17 contest on New Year’s Day with a 2:45 p.m.

Lionel Messi has not yet returned from World Cup duty, while Neymar is suspended, leaving Kylian Mbappe to carry PSG into 2023, something he's done often ...

The delivery from Przemyslaw Frankowski is a laser that's not dealt with well, but nobody from Lens can get a head to it. There are questions about this one as the Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba seemed to have the ball in his hands, but Hugo Ekitike slashed right through and banged it away from him and poked it into the net. A sensational ball from the right flank by Frankowski came to a completely unmarked Claude, but his volley attempt was awful and it bobbles right to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ball falls right at the feet of Openda with his back to goal who produces a stunning backheel, and Claude-Maurice finishes it off. Lois Openda is the creator once again, and Alexis Claude-Maurice is the beneficiary in front of net. PSG get the rebound and recycle, with Kylian Mbappe able to get around a double-team to deliver a cross which is dangerous across the face of goal, but nobody is there to pounce. What a start to the second half for the hosts, and they go 3-1 up! It's Achraf Hakimi who lets rip from the top of the box and produces a two-fisted punch from the Lens goalkeeper. He receives the ball at the top of the penalty area, and is immediately swarmed by four Lens players. A delivery from Marco Verratti from deep comes to Nordi Mukiele at the far post, and he heads it horizontally to Pablo Sarabia on the doorstep. The hosts at Stage Bollaert-Delelis, backed by a boisterous crowd of home supporters, were incisive on the counter-attack and overwhelmed the PSG midfield. Instead, Lens reignited the Ligue 1 title race and put PSG on notice as European play nears a return.

Paris Saint-Germain visit Stade Bollaert-Delelis to take on Lens in a top-of-the-table clash.

Lens will be kicking themselves for not keeping the pressure on PSG as they could only manage a 0-0 draw against Nice. However, Nice are the most stringent defence in the league alongside PSG, having conceded just 10 goals so far. Lens vs PSG confirmed lineups

RC Lens host Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in a clash between the top two in Ligue 1. It will be first against second facing off due to Lens' four-point ...

Both sides to score and the points shared sounds like a smart bet while any potential winning margin is like to be slim. Lionel Messi is expected back in the first few days of January after Argentina's FIFA World Cup win, but not in time to feature in this one. Lens: Haise i assessing his troops after the Nice draw, but Wuilker Farinez is a long-term casualty and is unlikely to play this season. "There are many matches to go and we need to recuperate quickly," said Haise after Thursday's 0-0 with Nice. Joker signing Julien Le Cardinal was in the group to face Nice and should be in line for his home debut here. I have a pretty good idea of what I will be asking of my available players." "It is a great game to kick-off 2023 with a great atmosphere," said Parisien boss Christophe Galtier of the game. "As a man, he is a very good person which counts for a lot in my eyes. Adam Buksa remains out and David Pereira Da Costa has injured his shoulder, but Alexis Claude Maurice should be available again after missing the OGCN clash due to a clause in his loan contract inserted by his parent club. "Franck is a very good coach and a very smart tactician," added Galtier of opposite number Franck Haise. Neymar was sent off in that 2-1 success at Parc des Princes and will miss the trip north for this showdown which Lens enter seven points behind PSG after their 0-0 draw with OGC Nice on Thursday. "It will be a full-blooded affair.

Ligue 1's top two teams will face off on the first day of 2023, but Paris Saint-Germain travel to Lens with neither Lionel Messi nor Neymar available.

Lens will take heart from seeing Galtier’s men struggle nonetheless, though they too looked off their best during Thursday’s goalless draw away to Nice. Neymar’s is a more avoidable piece of misfortune, however, after the Brazilian was sent off during Wednesday’s nail-biting 2-1 win over Strasbourg. Franck Haise’s side has been a surprise package in France’s top flight so far this season and is in contention for the unlikeliest of title challenges, with seven points separating them from PSG ahead of Week 17.

Paris Saint-Germain are the box-office draw of the French top flight with some of the world's very best players including Lionel Messi and Neymar plying their ...

Attempt blocked. Loïs Openda (Lens) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Saint-Etienne are the record winners with 10 league titles in their illustrious history, but none since 1981.

Lionel Messi has not yet returned from World Cup duty, while Neymar is suspended, leaving Kylian Mbappe to carry PSG into 2023, something he's done often ...

The delivery from Przemyslaw Frankowski is a laser that's not dealt with well, but nobody from Lens can get a head to it. There are questions about this one as the Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba seemed to have the ball in his hands, but Hugo Ekitike slashed right through and banged it away from him and poked it into the net. A sensational ball from the right flank by Frankowski came to a completely unmarked Claude, but his volley attempt was awful and it bobbles right to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ball falls right at the feet of Openda with his back to goal who produces a stunning backheel, and Claude-Maurice finishes it off. Lois Openda is the creator once again, and Alexis Claude-Maurice is the beneficiary in front of net. PSG get the rebound and recycle, with Kylian Mbappe able to get around a double-team to deliver a cross which is dangerous across the face of goal, but nobody is there to pounce. What a start to the second half for the hosts, and they go 3-1 up! It's Achraf Hakimi who lets rip from the top of the box and produces a two-fisted punch from the Lens goalkeeper. He receives the ball at the top of the penalty area, and is immediately swarmed by four Lens players. A delivery from Marco Verratti from deep comes to Nordi Mukiele at the far post, and he heads it horizontally to Pablo Sarabia on the doorstep. The hosts at Stage Bollaert-Delelis, backed by a boisterous crowd of home supporters, were incisive on the counter-attack and overwhelmed the PSG midfield. Instead, Lens reignited the Ligue 1 title race and put PSG on notice as European play nears a return.

Lionel Messi has not yet returned from World Cup duty, while Neymar is suspended, leaving Kylian Mbappe to carry PSG into 2023, something he's done often ...

The delivery from Przemyslaw Frankowski is a laser that's not dealt with well, but nobody from Lens can get a head to it. There are questions about this one as the Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba seemed to have the ball in his hands, but Hugo Ekitike slashed right through and banged it away from him and poked it into the net. A sensational ball from the right flank by Frankowski came to a completely unmarked Claude, but his volley attempt was awful and it bobbles right to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ball falls right at the feet of Openda with his back to goal who produces a stunning backheel, and Claude-Maurice finishes it off. Lois Openda is the creator once again, and Alexis Claude-Maurice is the beneficiary in front of net. PSG get the rebound and recycle, with Kylian Mbappe able to get around a double-team to deliver a cross which is dangerous across the face of goal, but nobody is there to pounce. What a start to the second half for the hosts, and they go 3-1 up! It's Achraf Hakimi who lets rip from the top of the box and produces a two-fisted punch from the Lens goalkeeper. He receives the ball at the top of the penalty area, and is immediately swarmed by four Lens players. A delivery from Marco Verratti from deep comes to Nordi Mukiele at the far post, and he heads it horizontally to Pablo Sarabia on the doorstep. The hosts at Stage Bollaert-Delelis, backed by a boisterous crowd of home supporters, were incisive on the counter-attack and overwhelmed the PSG midfield. Instead, Lens reignited the Ligue 1 title race and put PSG on notice as European play nears a return.

The hosts took an early lead after five minutes when a deflection from PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went to an unmarked Przemyslaw Frankowski, who volleyed ...

[Hugo Ekitike](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/304901/Hugo-Ekitike) equalised for PSG three minutes later when the striker reached a cross before Lens goalkeeper [Brice Samba](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/164126/Brice-Samba) and tapped the ball in. "They are two great players who make the difference, but that is not an excuse," PSG captain Marquinhos said. [Lois Openda](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/276265/Loïs-Openda) restored his side's lead in the 28th minute when he got a through ball from [Seko Fofana](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/184118/Seko-Fofana) and ran into the box, where he beat defender [Marquinhos](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/297070/Marquinhos) before finishing into the lower-right corner of the goal. We lacked solidarity and we got wiped out the more the game went on, leaving them far too much room," Galtier said. [Gianluigi Donnarumma](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/217092/Gianluigi-Donnarumma) went to an unmarked [Przemyslaw Frankowski](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/190806/Przemyslaw-Frankowski), who volleyed the ball into the open net. [Neymar](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/132948/Neymar), who [was suspended after getting sent off](/football/paris-saint-germain--frapsg/story/4839547/neymar-sees-red-for-simulation-in-paris-saint-germain-win) against [Strasbourg](/football/team?id=180) on Wednesday, and [Lionel Messi](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/45843/Lionel-Messi) who is continuing his post-World Cup recovery.

Lionel Messi has not yet returned from World Cup duty, while Neymar is suspended, leaving Kylian Mbappe to carry PSG into 2023, something he's done often ...

The delivery from Przemyslaw Frankowski is a laser that's not dealt with well, but nobody from Lens can get a head to it. There are questions about this one as the Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba seemed to have the ball in his hands, but Hugo Ekitike slashed right through and banged it away from him and poked it into the net. A sensational ball from the right flank by Frankowski came to a completely unmarked Claude, but his volley attempt was awful and it bobbles right to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ball falls right at the feet of Openda with his back to goal who produces a stunning backheel, and Claude-Maurice finishes it off. Lois Openda is the creator once again, and Alexis Claude-Maurice is the beneficiary in front of net. PSG get the rebound and recycle, with Kylian Mbappe able to get around a double-team to deliver a cross which is dangerous across the face of goal, but nobody is there to pounce. What a start to the second half for the hosts, and they go 3-1 up! It's Achraf Hakimi who lets rip from the top of the box and produces a two-fisted punch from the Lens goalkeeper. He receives the ball at the top of the penalty area, and is immediately swarmed by four Lens players. A delivery from Marco Verratti from deep comes to Nordi Mukiele at the far post, and he heads it horizontally to Pablo Sarabia on the doorstep. The hosts at Stage Bollaert-Delelis, backed by a boisterous crowd of home supporters, were incisive on the counter-attack and overwhelmed the PSG midfield. Instead, Lens reignited the Ligue 1 title race and put PSG on notice as European play nears a return.

The hosts took an early lead after five minutes when a deflection from PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went to an unmarked Przemyslaw Frankowski, who volleyed ...

[Hugo Ekitike](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/304901/Hugo-Ekitike) equalised for PSG three minutes later when the striker reached a cross before Lens goalkeeper [Brice Samba](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/164126/Brice-Samba) and tapped the ball in. "They are two great players who make the difference, but that is not an excuse," PSG captain Marquinhos said. [Lois Openda](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/276265/Loïs-Openda) restored his side's lead in the 28th minute when he got a through ball from [Seko Fofana](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/184118/Seko-Fofana) and ran into the box, where he beat defender [Marquinhos](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/297070/Marquinhos) before finishing into the lower-right corner of the goal. We lacked solidarity and we got wiped out the more the game went on, leaving them far too much room," Galtier said. [Gianluigi Donnarumma](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/217092/Gianluigi-Donnarumma) went to an unmarked [Przemyslaw Frankowski](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/190806/Przemyslaw-Frankowski), who volleyed the ball into the open net. [Neymar](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/132948/Neymar), who [was suspended after getting sent off](/soccer/paris-saint-germain--frapsg/story/4839547/neymar-sees-red-for-simulation-in-paris-saint-germain-win) against [Strasbourg](/soccer/team?id=180) on Wednesday, and [Lionel Messi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/45843/Lionel-Messi) who is continuing his post-World Cup recovery.

Paris Saint-Germain visit Stade Bollaert-Delelis to take on Lens in a top-of-the-table clash.

Lens will be kicking themselves for not keeping the pressure on PSG as they could only manage a 0-0 draw against Nice. However, Nice are the most stringent defence in the league alongside PSG, having conceded just 10 goals so far. Lens vs PSG confirmed lineups