PSG vs Lyon 2-1: Late Icardi Header Sees Parisians Win Six Out of Six

PSG maintained their 100% win record in this season’s Ligue 1 by coming from a goal down to beat Lyon 2-1 in what was a pretty entertaining clash at the Parc Des Princes.

The Parisians had some pretty good chances to score in the first half with Lionel Messi hitting the crossbar. However, it was Lyon who opened the scoring courtesy of Lucas Paqueta before Neymar equalized from the penalty spot.

Mauro Icardi eventually saved the day for PSG by heading in from a Kylian Mbappe cross.

?? La composition parisienne ? Lyon ! #????? pic.twitter.com/euj7w88teS

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 19, 2021

 

Mauricio Pochettino made a number of changes from the disappointing 1-1 draw against Club Brugge. Thilo Kehrer and Nuno Mendes started ahead of Achraf Hakimi and Abdou Diallo while Idrissa Gueye and Angel Di Maria were starting as well. 

Messi started as a right-winger against Brugge but for this game, he was deployed as an attacking midfielder. This was the Argentine’s first Ligue 1 start in a PSG shirt.

While Marco Verratti could not make the matchday squad due to injury, Gianluigi Donnarumma did find a place in the starting XI.

Lyon manager Peter Bosz made just the one change from their 2-0 win over Rangers and that was Xherdan Shaqiri starting instead of Houssem Aouar.

La composition de notre équipe pour #PSGOL ! ??

ALLEZ l’OL ! ? pic.twitter.com/wXDmNPUjfa

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) September 19, 2021

 

The match started well with both teams eager to find the net. Unsurprisingly, PSG had the better of chances and came close to scoring after only five minutes but Anthony Lopes and Jason Denayer managed to keep Lyon out of trouble.

Di Maria, Messi, and Neymar kept troubling the opposition defence but the likes of Boateng, Gusto, and Denayer were up to the task. 

Donnarumma wasn’t troubled as much as Lopes but whenever the Lyon attackers tried to get a shot, he managed to foil them, like he stopped Shaqiri in the 26th minute.

Messi had a couple of chances to find the net with his first attempt being saved by Lopes’ leg. A few minutes later, PSG won a free kick after Neymar was fouled by Lucas Paqueta. Messi hit it well but his shot struck the crossbar. 

⏸️⌛️C’est la mi-temps au Parc ! De nombreuses occasions mais pas de buts pour l’instant au Parc.@PSG_inside 0⃣-0⃣ @OL #????? pic.twitter.com/l8Q9RJKc9r

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 19, 2021

 

In the second half, Lyon opened the scoring after Karl Toko Ekambi’s precise pass found Paqueta who beat Donnarumma. However, PSG fought back and tried hard to find an equaliser.

They eventually won a penalty when Gusto fouled Neymar. The Brazilian stepped up to take the ensuing spot-kick and sent Lopes the wrong way to level the scores.

A number of substitutions took place during the match with the most notable one being Messi subbed off for Hakimi. The 34-year-old was visibly disappointed to be taken off and didn’t shake Pochettino’s hand while walking to the bench. Icardi and Wijnaldum soon came onto the pitch with Di Maria and Ander Herrera off.

PSG kept attacking ferociously but were finding it increasingly difficult to penetrate Lyon’s defence. The visitors did not get too many attacking opportunities and were more engrossed in foiling the Parisians.

Mbappe had been quiet for most of the second half but managed to provide a fine cross which was headed in by Icardi with only a few seconds left to spare. PSG thus maintained their 100% win record in Ligue 1 this season.

 

MATCH SCORECARD

September 19, 2021 – Ligue 1 2021-22 Round 6
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – LYON 2-1

SCORERS: 54′ Paquetà (L), 66′ Neymar (P, pen.), 93′ Icardi (P)

REFEREE: Turpin
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Marquinhos (P), Nuno Mendes (P), Di Maria (P), Lopes (L); Added Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 4′