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Recap: PSG thrash LOSC to widen lead at top

Match Reports
E. DEVIN
Published on 03/02/2025 at 00:00
2-minute read
Bradley Barcola was one of the capital side's four scorers in a comprehensive win.

In a much-anticipated matchup of Ligue 1 McDonald's two remaining UEFA Champions League participants, it was one way-traffic at the Parc des Princes as Paris Saint-Germain reeled off their tenth straight win over LOSC Lille, handing Les Dogues a 4-1 defeat.

diminished lille stunned from the off

Both sides clearly entered Saturday's match with one eye on their Champions League fixtures, but while PSG rested the likes of only Willian Pacho and fit-again Vitinha, Lille were without Jonathan David and Hakon Haraldsson from the off, with Bruno Génésio opting to focus his thin squad toward next week's match against Borussia Dortmund. Already the favorites playing at home, PSG were on the board within six minutes as Bradley Barcola did well to pick up on sloppy play at the back by Lille before switching play to Ousmane Dembélé. Lucas Chevalier kept out Dembélé's shot, but Barcola was there to tap the ball for his 12th goal of the season in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

Just ten minutes later, PSG nearly doubled their lead, but Lucas Beraldo's header flashed wide at a corner. Another goal for the hosts wasn't long in coming, though. Désiré Doué stood up a ball to the back post and Marquinhos scrambled the ball home for his first goal of the season (23'). Just five minutes later, the inevitable Ousmane Dembélé would have the third, slotting home after some unselfish play from Gonçalo Ramos and João Neves. Up three goals inside thirty minutes, PSG were cruising, and it would soon be the turn of Doué to go from provider to scorer, the youngster finding the top corner with an absolute rocket of a shot from outside the area.

"Our best first half of the year"

Stunned, Lille would offer little resistance, even if David, playing off the bench, would capitalize on Gianluigi Donnarumma spilling the ball ten minutes from time to pull a goal back. 4-1 would be the final, a result that would see Lille mired in fifth after wins by OGC Nice and AS Monaco.  Never overly generous with his praise, PSG manager Luis Enrique was unstinting in his plaudits post-match, saying, "I think it was our best first half of the year. I still have to analyse it, but for me it's very positive to have a team with this mentality at the moment. I think it's normal to relax a bit when you have a first half like that. It was a match with a tighter, more competitive second half, but that's normal because everyone's thinking about the Champions League."

After their midweek fixtures, Lille will take on bottom side Montpellier HSC while PSG travel to face Stade Rennais.  

Read more:

>> Recap: Nice keep pace in top three race and more
>> FC Nantes: The Eternal Nicolas Pallois

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