02/21/26 04:11:00
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02/21 16:09 CST PSG returns to the top of French league standings with a little
help from Monaco
PSG returns to the top of French league standings with a little help from Monaco
PARIS (AP) --- Paris Saint Germain returned to the top of the French league on
Saturday thanks to a favor from Champions League playoff opponent Monaco.
Dsir Doue, Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos scored for PSG to defeat
last-place Metz 3-0 and capitalize on Monaco's earlier 3-2 win over previous
leader Lens.
PSG moved two points clear of Lens with 11 rounds to play.
Lens had moved top the previous weekend with a 5-0 rout of promoted Paris FC
while PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes.
But Lens' hopes of a prolonged stay at the summit were dealt a bitter blow
Saturday after it squandered a comfortable two-goal lead and conceded three
goals to Metz after the hour-mark.
Lens stunned
Odsonne douard scored early with a volley for Lens and Florian Thauvin
converted the rebound after Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Khn could only parry a
deflected shot early in the second half.
That was as good as it got for the home team, however.
United States forward Folarin Balogun scored against the run of play in the
62nd, Denis Zakaria equalized in the 70th and Ansu Fati pounced on another
defensive blunder to make it 3-2 two minutes after that.
It was quite the reversal for Monaco, which led PSG 2-0 in the first leg of
their Champions League playoff on Tuesday after two goals from Balogun, only to
lose 3-2.
Lens' evening was summed up when Saud Abdulhamid was booked for diving instead
of getting a penalty that he felt he deserved.
PSG responds
Metz must have feared a rout when Doue scored after just two minutes of play
after Warren Zare-Emery played a long ball in behind the high line of Metz
defenders.
Goncalo Ramos played the ball across goal for Barcola to head the second before
the break.
The home team played it safe after it, when it failed to register a shot on
target until Ramos got the third in the 77th.
PSG could arguably have scored more but seemed more intent on conserving energy
for Wednesday's rendezvous with Monaco for the second leg of their Champions
League playoff in Paris.
Also Saturday, Argentine teenager Julin Vignolo scored late as a substitute
for mid-table Toulouse to draw 1-1 with promoted Paris FC.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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