Talking Tactics: How PSG Capitalized On a Man Advantage Against Lens
Lens battled PSG at the Parc des Princes, but a first-half red card forced them to play much of the match with 10 men and the league leaders took advantage.
Paris Saint-Germain took on second-place RC Lens on a chilly Saturday night at the Parc des Princes, beating them 3-1. Lens was undefeated for the last 7 games and went into the match having the best offense and defense in the last month in the league. PSG stretched their lead at the top of the table to nine points ahead of their eternal rivals, Olympique de Marseille.
Galtier’s men started in their usual 5-3-2 /3-5-2 hybrid with the in-form Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Archaff Hakimi, captain Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Danilo Pereira, and Nuno Mendes backline. A midfield trio of Carlos Soler, Vitnha, and Fabian Ruiz with superstars Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi up top. Franck Haise put out a 3-4-2-1 formation with Brice Samba as the keeper. Facundo Medina, Kevin Danso, and Jonathan Gradit in front of Samba. Driver Machado, captain Seko Fofana, Salis Abdul Samed, and Przemyslaw Frankowski in the middle of the park. Angelo Fuglini and Adrien Thomasson playing behind their talisman LoÏs Openda.
Lens began the match dominating in possession and play for the first 5 minutes of the match, and were almost rewarded with a goal if not for the reflex save by Donnarumma in the 2nd minute. Seko Fofana was pulling the strings and being a problem for the home side. After those minutes, PSG was able to retain the ball and began attacking relentlessly. Paris played very slowly and calmly on the ball. They would wait for the perfect opportunity to attack. Whenever Leo or Kylian was able to pick up the ball in the middle, the wing backs and the midfield would initiate their attack. Their first big chance came in the 12th minute when Mbappé made a run down the left and crossed it to a wide-open Messi, whose shot was blocked by a Lens defender. What seemed like the turning point in the match was when Lens midfielder Abdul Samed received a direct red card in the 19th minute after a high-studded tackle on Hakimi’s ankle. Lens still pressed hard and tried to create chances, but the player advantage was hard to overcome.
The home side was finally able to break the stalemate in the 31st minute. Vitinha linked up well with Mbappé, and the young striker was able to slot the ball past Samba, scoring his 139th goal in Ligue 1 for PSG, becoming their all-time league top scorer. Paris was then able to double their lead 6 minutes later. Vtinha was able to score his first goal for PSG after he received a pass from Nuno Mendes off of a short corner. The scoring didn’t stop there. Messi was able to add another goal before halftime. Messi picked up the ball in midfield, played a 1-2 with Mbappé, and the Frenchman gave him a perfectly weighted pass. Messi took the shot and slotted it past Samba for the home side's 3rd goal of the night.
Galtier decided to move Danilo to the midfield at the start of the second half, switching to a 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield. This proved a bad move, as Lens grew into the game in the second half. Even with the numerical disadvantage, Lens was able to win the midfield battle in the second half. Openda had an opportunity in the 57th minute to get one back, but Donnarumma came up with a big save. Then in the 59th minute, Fabian Ruiz gave up a penalty after handling the ball inside the box. Frankowski sent Donnarumma the wrong way and scored the spot kick to bring RCL within 2 goals. The away side continued to pressure PSG and was the more dangerous side in the second half. Lens sustained pressure for long periods of time but was unable to score another.
I thought PSG started the match really well. Besides the first five minutes, they mostly dominated the first half, were very clinical in front of goal, and their backline/midfield suffocated Lens, not allowing them to have any chances. It wasn’t costly this time, but switching to a back four and moving Danilo into the midfield was a bad mistake. Lens began to overrun PSG’s midfield in the second half and dominated the share of possession. The hybrid 5/3 in the back gives PSG balance; it allows the fullbacks to be attack-minded, while also having more players in the back to help with defensive transitions. Also, I felt Galtier could have made more substitutions. PSG was up by three goals for a good chunk of the match, and he could have afforded to experiment with some players but chose only to make two subs while Paris was getting dominated in the second half.
Player Ratings
Donnarumma - 8 - Came up with some clutch saves in both halves and did well playing out of the back.
Hakimi - 7 - Made some great offensive plays, played well out of the back, and was solid in defense.
Marquinhos - 7 - Calm, cool, and collective. Helped organize the backline and was solid in possession.
Ramos - 7 - No mistakes, made a couple of good tackles and played well out of the back.
Danilo - 6 - Was good in the first half as a CB but was overran and outplayed when he was moved to the midfield.
Nuno Mendes - 8 - Had a solo run from own half, almost resulting in a goal, assisted Vitinha, and helped cover the backline
Soler - 7 - Kept possession well and was always a passing option or a threat in attack.
Ruiz - 7 - Did well to help PSG build up from the back, and was a calming presence in midfield.
Vitinha - 8 - Finally got his goal for PSG, and an assist for Mbappé. He looks to be getting his confidence back.
Mbappé - 9 - Goal and an assist, ended his goal drought and was very positive today.
Messi - 8 - A goal and a couple of big chances greeted, and he is back to playing at his usual level.
Subs
Bernat - 6 - Entered the match in the 77th minute, and didn’t have much of an effect.
ZaÏre-Emery - 7 - Entered the match in the 88th minute. Created an opportunity after intercepting the ball in the midfield. The team became more balanced when he came on, and Danilo moved back into the backline.