Bradley Barcola starred in Paris Saint-Germain’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Lens, assisting the equaliser before scoring the late winner. The Ligue 1 leaders are now 10 points clear at the top after securing all three points at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Match Recap: PSG Secure Rare Comeback Win
- First Half: Lens Strike First
- Lens took the lead in the 36th minute when Goduine Koyalipou flicked a corner toward M’Bala Nzola.
- Nzola controlled the ball well before firing a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, giving Lens a deserved 1-0 lead.
- Second Half: Barcola Takes Control
- PSG Equalise (59’):
- Barcola drove into the box and squared the ball to Fabian Ruiz, who calmly finished into the net.
- Barcola Scores the Winner (86’):
- A quick PSG counter-attack saw Barcola unleash a powerful shot into the top corner, sealing the victory.
- PSG Equalise (59’):
- Final Score: Lens 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Player Ratings & Analysis
Lens (3-4-3)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Brice Samba | 7.0/10 (Made key saves but helpless for both goals) |
| CB: Kevin Danso | 6.9/10 (Strong defensively but struggled with PSG’s speed) |
| CB: Jonathan Gradit | 6.8/10 (Lost Barcola for the winner) |
| CB: Facundo Medina | 7.1/10 (Good distribution, solid first half) |
| RM: Przemysław Frankowski | 6.7/10 (Offered width but struggled defensively) |
| CM: Andy Diouf | 7.3/10 (Energetic, helped control midfield) |
| CM: Nampalys Mendy | 6.9/10 (Broke up play well) |
| LM: Goduine Koyalipou | 7.5/10 (Provided the assist for the opening goal) |
| RW: Florian Sotoca | 6.5/10 (Couldn’t break through PSG’s defense) |
| ST: M’Bala Nzola | 7.8/10 (Scored the opener, a constant threat) |
| LW: Elye Wahi | 6.6/10 (Limited impact in the second half) |
Substitutes:
- David Costa (72’ for Sotoca): 6.5/10
- Morgan Guilavogui (80’ for Nzola): 6.4/10
🔹 Player of the Match: Bradley Barcola (8.7/10)
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma | 6.8/10 (Should have done better for Nzola’s goal) |
| RB: Achraf Hakimi | 7.2/10 (Defended well, provided attacking width) |
| CB: Marquinhos | 7.5/10 (Led the backline with composure) |
| CB: Lucas Beraldo | 7.1/10 (Comfortable in possession) |
| LB: Nuno Mendes | 7.3/10 (Energetic performance on the left) |
| CM: Warren Zaïre-Emery | 7.8/10 (Controlled the midfield, strong defensively) |
| CM: Fabian Ruiz | 8.0/10 (Scored the equaliser, great passing) |
| CM: Vitinha | 7.4/10 (Pressed aggressively, created chances) |
| RW: Ousmane Dembélé | 7.2/10 (Tricky dribbling, lacked end product) |
| ST: Kylian Mbappé | 7.5/10 (Involved in buildup but no goal) |
| LW: Bradley Barcola | 8.7/10 (Assist and winning goal, outstanding) |
Substitutes:
- Gonçalo Ramos (82’ for Dembélé): 6.5/10
- Manuel Ugarte (85’ for Vitinha): 6.6/10
Key Takeaways from the Match
✅ PSG Extend Their Lead to 10 Points
- A huge step toward the Ligue 1 title, especially after their first comeback win in three years.
✅ Bradley Barcola’s Breakout Game
- Scored his 11th league goal and provided an assist, proving he’s a key player for Luis Enrique.
✅ PSG’s Unbeaten Away Record Stays Intact
- 33 consecutive away league games without defeat, the second-longest streak in Europe’s top five leagues.
✅ Lens Continue to Struggle Against Top Teams
- Zero wins in nine games against top-half teams this season.
What’s Next?
- PSG: Will look to maintain their dominant form in Ligue 1 and prepare for the Champions League.
- Lens: Need to turn around their poor record against top teams if they want to push for European qualification.
FAQs
- Who scored for PSG?
- Fabian Ruiz (59’) and Bradley Barcola (86’).
- How many goals has Barcola scored this season?
- 11 Ligue 1 goals so far in the 2024/25 campaign.
- What does this result mean for PSG?
- They are now 10 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
- Why was this win significant for PSG?
- It was their first comeback win after trailing at halftime since October 2021.
- What’s next for Lens?
- They must find a way to beat top-half teams to stay competitive in Ligue 1.
