RC Lens vs Paris Saint Germain. The second against the first. In France they started the new year with an unadulterated topper. And the lead role? It was for a Belgian. Loïs Openda helped the home team with a beautiful goal and ditto assist to a stunt victory against PSG (3-1). The northern French fairytale just keeps going on.
Playing football on New Year’s Day? Then we better get fireworks right away, Lens and Paris Saint-Germain must have thought. Frankowski gave the home team the lead after just five minutes of play. Sotoca found Haidara on the left. Donnarumma was still with a hand between the cross volley of the Malian, but was unable to clear it well enough. Frankowski took advantage.
PSG rectified the lopsided situation less than three minutes later. The barely 20-year-old Hugo Ekitike got his chance in the absence of big guns Messi and Neymar and thanked Christophe Galtier for the confidence. The young Frenchman cleverly got in front of his man and pushed in Mukiele’s low cross.
PSG developed more and more pressure forward, but it left room in the hand of its defense. Right up the street of Loïs Openda. Just before half an hour, the Red Devil gave Lens the lead again. Openda was sent into the depth by the strong playing Fofana, eliminated Marquinhos in the Paris sixteen with a magisterial cap behind the supporting leg and worked the 2-1 past Donnarumma. A gem.
Three minutes after the break, Openda showed up again. This time not with a goal, but with an assist. After Fabian Ruiz lost the ball, the ball ended up at Openda. The Red Devil found Alexis Claude with a wonderfully subtle heel, who was able to kick in the 3-1 and thus completed the stunt victory. Openda received an applause replacement fifteen minutes before the end.
PSG started the new year with a hangover. Lens strengthens his second place and comes within two points of the Parisian leader.
