Paris Saint-Germain, without FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Neymar, lost for the first time in any competition since March 20 last year when they were defeated 3-1 at RC Lens on Sunday.
“Lens deserved their win,” PSG coach Christophe Galtier said.
Lois Openda scored one and set up another as Lens, who have only lost once in Ligue 1 this season, closed the gap on PSG at the top to four points after 17 rounds.
Photo: Reuters
“We are happy to be four points behind,” Lens coach Franck Haise said. “This victory proves that we can beat anyone in this championship.”
PSG’s last loss was more than nine months ago when they fell 3-0 at AS Monaco in Ligue 1, although that still left them 12 points clear at the top of the table.
On Sunday, PSG were without Messi and suspended Brazilian Neymar, but Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Boot winner in Qatar, received a rousing welcome from Lens fans as he warmed up.
Galtier said he hoped French fans would give Messi a similar reception.
“He’s going to join us on Jan. 3, in 48 hours,” Galtier said. “I hope Leo will be well received. He won the most beautiful trophy by being very good. We know he’s a great and decisive player so we hope he’ll be well received obviously.”
“Kylian worked had. He showed a very good attitude,” Galtier said. “Leo and Ney were not there, but that is no excuse.”
Lens took the lead after 5 minutes when PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma blocked an effort from Massadio Haidara to Przemyslaw Frankowski who scored.
Hugo Ekitike replied 3 minutes later, swinging hard as Brice Samba dived to gather a cross and driving the ball through the Lens goalkeeper’s grasp.
Lens took control after 28 minutes. Seko Fofana won possession on the edge of his own box, drove through a couple of challenges then measured a pass between the PSG central defenders to Openda. The Belgian sprinted clear and squeezed a shot under Donnarumma.
Lens pressed from the start of the second half, and in the 48th minute won possession deep in PSG’s half. The ball reached Openda in the box, his backheel left the defense flat-footed and enabled Alexis Claude Maurice to take a touch and score from close range.
The French league normally takes the holiday season off, but with matches to make up after the World Cup, it played one round immediately after Christmas and another on Sunday and yesterday.
They have dubbed the games Celebration Week in English, as a nod to the English tradition of Boxing Day games, but many fans were suspicious or hostile toward the move.
Among protest banners unfurled by fans in an almost empty stand at Nantes, where the home team beat AJ Auxerre 1-0, was one that said the league and broadcasters were “killing” them.
In Monaco, Aleksandr Golovin smashed in the only goal from outside the penalty area as the home team did just enough to beat Stade Brestois 29 1-0 and tighten their grip on fourth place.
Angers SCO remain anchored to the bottom after suffering a ninth straight loss, falling 2-1 to visiting Lorient who broke their run of six games without a victory.
Taiwan suffered its first defeat of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, losing to defending champion Japan 3-1 at the Taipei Dome last night. Japan’s victory put Taiwan’s score at two wins and one loss in WBSC Premier12 championship Group B play. In the top of the first inning, a sacrifice fly from Japanese batter Shota Morishita allowed Masayuki Kuwahara to score a run on Taiwan’s starter Chen Po-ching (陳柏清). Taiwan’s attempt to catch up in the bottom of the first ended to no avail and an uneventful second inning saw the score
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second. At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the
Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome last night to advance to the Super Round of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champion and Group B winner Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the off. After taking a walk to first base, Taiwan’s Chen Chieh- hsien (陳傑憲) then stole second before Tseng Song-en (曾頌恩) drew a walk to first in the top of the first inning. Chen then
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