Lille beat PSG 1-0 at the Parc des Princes over the weekend to take the lead in a fascinating title race in France
By Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French
Football News
Things did not augur well for Lille before their trip to the Parc des Princes at the weekend. They had the same number of points as league leaders PSG, but had been soundly beaten in the Coupe de
France by their rivals before the break and were without Zeki Celik and Yusuf Yazici. Burak Yilmaz had made his return after a lengthy injury layoff, but he was only fit enough for the bench. Lille have done well this season to balance their Europa League and league commitments, but this looked to be a bridge too far, especially given that Jérémy Pied’s absence left them without a natural right-back.
The hosts were missing Marco Verratti in midfield, due to Covid-19, as well as Mauro Icardi, but the Argentinian may not have started in any event. From the first whistle, PSG sought to put pressure on Tiago Djalo, the youngster who replaced Celik at right-back, by overloading that flank. Ángel Di María, Kylian Mbappé and the fit-again Neymar all took turns to attack on that side of the pitch, leaving Thilo Kehrer to provide width for PSG on the opposite side. With Lille playing an unfamiliar 4-2-3-1, and Renato Sanches filling in on the right wing, Mauricio Pochettino sought to put pressure on the parts of the visitors’ lineup that would be most susceptible to it, but it did not work.