Neymar starred in the absence of Lionel Messi as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Lorient 2-1 to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Ligue 1
Result: Lorient 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Date: 06 November 2022
Venue: Stade Yves Allainmat
PSG were without Messi due to an Achilles tendon injury but Neymar, who missed the win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League through suspension, returned along Hugo Ekitike, as the joined Kylian Mbappe upfront.
The Parisians had an ideal start after Neymar gave them the lead on eight minutes with a strike in between two defenders guarding the goal on the line after the Brazilian rounded goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, from a high press.
Mvogo did not return for Lorient after he slipped and injured himself trying to prevent Neymar from scoring and he was replaced by fellow shot-stopper Vito Mannone.
Christophe Galtier's charges gained momentum and Sergio Ramos had a chance to double their lead shortly before the half-hour mark after a cross by Kylian Mbappe but his powerful header at the back post was parried away by Mannone.
The game was on the edge in latter phase of the first stanza, as Lorient also threatened and PSG came close to doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time but Emitike had a shot cleared off the line by Bonke Innocent from a scramble in the box.
Lorient absorbed the pressure well in the opening exchanges of the second stanza and Terem Moffi snatched the equaliser eight minutes in from a counter-attack with a cracking strike into the far top corner after a through ball by Enzo Le Fee.
Regis Le Bris' men had their tails up and Moffi came very close to giving them the lead just before the hour-mark with a first-time strike that rattled the crossbar after an offload by Theo Le Bris.
Lorient still had confidence to knock the ball around, although not getting behind the PSG defence and Galtier made a change on 67 minutes, as Renato Sanches replaced Vitinha in midfield and with 14 minutes remaining, Carlos Soler came on for Ekitike in attack, both for fresh legs.
The visitors battled to regain their lead and Danilo Pereira eventually sent PSG ahead in the last nine minutes with a close-range header from a corner by Neymar.
The Parisians looked to see out the dying minutes by keeping possession but Lorient had a fight in them, although they lacked the quality in the last third to break down a deep lying PSG, who held on to extend their lead at the top of the log to five points.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
