PSG vs. Lens result: Messi, Ligue 1 leaders escape again with late goal

Paris Saint-Germain did it again. The Ligue 1 leaders were a couple of minutes away from only their second loss of the league season, but two second-half subs saved the day as PSG escaped with a 1-1 draw at Lens.

Down 1-0 in second-half stoppage time, Kylian Mbappe sent in a pinpoint cross that found the head of Georginio Wijnaldum, who applied the finish. Moments later Lionel Messi had a chance to grab all three points for PSG, but his free kick missed the top right corner. 

A PSG winner would have been unjust for a Lens team which played a good game and arguably deserved a first-half goal which never came, as PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas made several stops. But Navas was at fault on the 62nd-minute knuckling shot from Seko Fofana, which went right through the Costa Rican’s hands to make it 1-0. Lens could have added to that lead just seven minutes later, but Navas was saved by the right post.

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PSG brought on a trio of subs with 20 minutes to go, including Mbappe and Wijnaldum, but they struggled to threaten Lens. Mbappe had a look just one minute after coming on, but Lens goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca was up to the challenge. Leca had also stopped a point-blank Angel Di Maria shot just before halftime in the only other big chance for PSG.

Just days after winning his record seventh Ballon d’Or, Messi played the full match and struck the outside of the post in the first half. He was on the ground and expecting a foul to be called on the play that led to the Lens goal. But the home team did not stop play for Messi and Fofana followed up with the goal.

The point allows PSG (13W-1L-3D) to add to its league-leading 42 points, 13 points better than second-place Marseille which lost its match on the weekend and failed to narrow the gap. PSG will be in action again on Tuesday to close out the Champions League group stage at home to Club Brugge. 

Lens vs. PSG final score

Goals:
LEN — Seko Fofana — 62nd min.
PSG — Georginio Wijnaldum (Kylian Mbappe) — 92nd min.

(All times Eastern)

Final: Lens 1, PSG 1

95th min.: Messi curls it, but he can’t find the top right corner. And that’s the game.

94th min.: Free kick for PSG inside the “D” just outside the Lens box and Messi is taking this.

92nd min.: PSG scores! A great cross by Kylian Mbappe on the left and Wijnaldum heads home. It was a pinpoint cross.

90th min.: Four minutes of stoppage time. PSG can’t really muster any response. Lens still has plenty of energy left. Yellow card for Idriss Gueye for a foul on Seko Fofana, which kills some more time.

80th min.: SUBS – Lens brings on Massadio Haidara for the injured Kalimuendo and Yannick Cahuzac on for Da Costa. Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes replaces Juan Bernat at left back for PSG.

78th min.: Lens come close again! Da Costa feeds Frankowski in the box and he pokes a shot that’s stopped and he nearly got to the rebound, too. It feels like PSG is close to taking a knockout blow.

71st min.: This game is getting good. PSG get a chance on the other end and Leca comes up with the save on Mbappe.

70th min.: SUBS – Mauricio Pochettino has seen enough. Mbappe on for Icardi at forward and two changes in midfield: Wijnaldum and Idrissa Gueye on for Danilo and Paredes.

69th min.: Lens almost get a second! On a 4-on-2 breakaway it’s David Pereira Da Costa with the shot that hits the far post and bounces right into the hands of Keylor Navas.

62nd min.: Goal for Lens! Seko Fofana with the blast from distance and PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas whiffs on the save and the ball goes in! Lionel Messi was on the ground during the play and he wanted a whistle for what he thought was a foul, but the Lens defender won the ball cleanly off Messi.

54th min.: SUB – Lens attacker Gael Kakuta pulled something and has to come out. Florian Sotoca comes on.

51st min.:  What a chance for Lens! A Clauss cross into the PSG box is not cleared, and it falls to Lens center forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, whose volley goes wide with defenders closing him down. The PSG loanee misfired — that should have been on goal.

50th min.: There’s that individual quality that PSG presents: Angel Di Maria with a curling effort that goes just wide with the ‘keeper frozen on his line.

47th min.: CAUTION – Lens left center back Facundo Medina gets a yellow for an intentional hand ball that denied a promising attack. He’ll miss his team’s next match.

46th min.: We’re back underway at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Halftime: Lens 0, PSG 0

Halftime: Another tight match for Ligue 1 leaders PSG. Lens started strong and arguably deserved a goal for its efforts, and then the PSG front three eventually had their moments, including Lionel Messi striking the post. Goalkeepers Keylor Navas (PSG) and Jean-Louis Leca (Lens) have taken care of business so far. The best chance fell to Angel Di Maria in stoppage time, but he couldn’t put it away. On balance Lens has played the better game, but PSG showed it has the quality to come up with a goal at any moment.

46th min.: What a save by Jean-Louis Leca! That was the best chance of the game on the foot of Angel Di Maria. A fantastic cross by Hakimi to a wide-open Di Maria at the far post and his touch on goal is incredibly saved by a sprawling Leka.

37th min.: Mauro Icardi found inside the box and he gets a shot off in traffic which is saved for a corner. Without Kylian Mbappe, the PSG attack doesn’t seem as incisive. The Lens defenders are keeping everything in front of them.

31st min.: First it was a blast by Cheick Doucoure and then it was Gael Kakuta with a weak shot moments later. Lens is turning up the pressure once again.

24th min.: Excellent free kick by Lens right wingback Jonathan Clauss which bounces right in front of PSG ‘keeper Keylor Navas. Clauss seems up for this one.

22nd min.: Fofana fires at goal and it’s an easy save for Keylor Navas. The energy has died down some for Lens, which was sending plenty of numbers forward at the start of the match.

18th min.: Messi hits the post! He’s surrounded by Lens defenders, but he gets a shot off from a central position that nicks the outside of the right post. PSG is settling into the match.

8th min.: Lens is aggressive pushing forward and PSG is having to ride out the storm. On another quick transition, Seko Fofana finds Clauss for a blast that’s off target.

4th min.: Lens applying the pressure here and PSG complying with several giveaways early on. Gael Kakuta is on the right and former Chicago Fire winger Przemyslaw Frankowski is at left wingback.

1st min.: We’re off. Lens is donning a special black kit for the match against PSG.

2:25 p.m.: PSG center back Presnel Kimpembe plays his 200th match for the club, joining a group of 42 players.

Lens vs. PSG lineups

Lens makes three changes: Captain Yannick Cahuzac, forward Florian Sotoca and left center back Massadio Haidara all move to the bench with David Pereira Da Costa, Gael Kakuta and Facundo Medina getting the start at home.

Lens starting lineup (3-4-3, left to right): 16-Jean-Louis Leca-GK — 14-Facundo Medina, 4-Kevin Danso, 24-Jonathan Gradit — 29-Przemyslaw Frankowski, 8-Seko Fofana (capt), 28-Cheick Doucoure, 11-Jonathan Clauss — 20-David Pereira Da Costa, 15-Arnaud Kalimuendo, 10-Gael Kakuta

Lens subs (9): 1-Wilker Farinez-GK, 5-Christopher Wooh, 21-Massadio Haidara, 27-Charles Boli, 18-Yannick Cahuzac, 33-Jonathan Varane, 7-Florian Sotoca, 9-Ignatius Ganago, 2-Corentin Jean

Kylian Mbappe gets a break from center forward duties with Mauro Icardi getting a rare start between Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. Defender Thilo Kehrer is left out of the squad, while Sergio Ramos will be back in training on Sunday after extended rest following his season debut. Neymar, Julian Draxler and Ander Herrera are all out due to injury, though Herrera is expected back in training.

PSG starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Keylor Navas-GK — 14-Juan Bernat, 3-Presnel Kimpembe, 5-Marquinhos (capt.), 2-Achraf Hakimi — 6-Marco Verratti, 15-Danilo, 8-Leandro Paredes — 30-Lionel Messi, 9-Mauro Icardi, 11-Angel Di Maria

PSG subs (9): 50-Giuanluigi Donnarumma-GK, 17-Colin Dagba, 22-Abdou Diallo, 25-Nuno Mendes, 28-Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, 27-Idrissa Gueye, 12-Rafinha Alcantara, 18-Georginio Wijnaldum, 7-Kylian Mbappe

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How to watch Lens vs. PSG

• Date: S aturday, Dec. 4
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Espanol
• Streaming: fuboTV,  beIN Sports Connect

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The match will be carried by Ligue 1 rightsholder beIN Sports in both English and Spanish. Both those beIN Channels are available to be streamed via fuboTV , which offers new users a  free 7-day trial .