A gift cannot be refused. And PSG understood that. A week after losing its leading position after its setback against Rennes (3-1), the Parisian club (2nd) hosted Metz (18th) on behalf of the 23rd day of Ligue 1 with only one objective in mind: to take advantage of the stunning defeat of RC Lens against Monaco (2-3) to regain control of the championship. For this meeting placed between two Champions League play-off matches against ASM, Luis Enrique decided to rotate. Thus, Hernández, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Kang-in Lee and Gonçalo Ramos were lined up from the start in favor of Nuno Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, Vitinha and Neves. Arriving in Paris this winter from Barcelona, Dro Fernández started his first match in his new colors. Opposite, Benoît Tavenot aligned his troops in 4-1-4-1 without Gautier Hein, injured, but with the objective of achieving a resounding feat at the Parc.
If the Messins quickly projected themselves forward to try to surprise the Parisians, they logically ceded the ball to the reigning French champions, who did not take long to open the score. Launched deep after an excellent ball from Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué went to challenge Jonathan Fischer. With a small ball, the number 14 from Ile-de-France opened the scoring for PSG and thus scored his 3rd goal of the week (3rd, 1-0), after his double in C1 in Monaco. The Capital club increased their attacks in the Moselle area, but faltered in the last pass. Against them, Metz only suffered and could even have been reduced to ten men at the hour mark. After a foul by Gbamin on Ramos, Mr. Kherradji showed the red card against the Ivorian international. Called to review the images, the match officer finally corrected his decision and awarded a simple yellow to the midfielder of Metz (31st). Remaining at 11, but still powerless, the Messins finally conceded a second goal before half-time, on a header from Barcola (45th + 3, 2-0).
PSG on the throne of Ligue 1, now heading towards C1
In the second half, the Capital club controlled the tempo of the match. Luis Enrique also took the opportunity to revive a few players for the decisive match in the Champions League to come, bringing in Neves, Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia on the hour mark. For Metz, Bouna Sarr made his return to Ligue 1, five and a half years after his last appearance in the colors of OM. The attacks continued to multiply in the Metz area, which ended up giving in a third time during the evening.
Little in sight, Gonçalo Ramos took advantage of a high recovery from Lucas Hernández at the feet of Sarr to take the ball, get on his left foot and cross an unstoppable strike for Fischer (77th, 3-0). Enough to seal the victory of the Parisians, superior to their opponents without forcing and who therefore regain first place in the championship, two units ahead of Lens. Now it’s time for the Champions League and the Monaco reception, Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes. On the Metz side, the first victory in 2026 will wait.
