Author: Barkha Roy
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a resounding 3-1 victory over Lens, marking their first triumphant step in the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season. Marco Asensio opened the scoring just before half-time, scoring a remarkable debut goal for PSG following his transfer from Real Madrid. His curling shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner of the net, giving PSG the lead.
The second half witnessed the dominance of Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice to reinforce PSG’s dominance. For the first goal (in the 52nd minute), he powerfully converted Lucas Hernandez’s corner kick, celebrating his 150th Ligue 1 goal for the club. His second goal (in the 90th minute), despite being deflected twice, further solidified PSG’s leading position, cementing their role as the reigning champions.
Although Lens managed a late consolation goal (in the 94th minute) with Morgan Guilavogui’s deflected shot, PSG’s achievement was undeniable. The final score favored PSG 3-1, a testament to his prowess.
Captain Marquinhos, the only Brazilian player on the pitch, had a relatively quiet performance, concentrating mainly on circulating the ball. Surprisingly, he showed his versatility by effectively covering the left-back position during the final minutes of the match. This performance is likely to dampen the transfer speculation that is currently swirling around him.
After the win, PSG coach Luis Enrique expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. He praised the players’ commitment, confidence and willingness to execute their strategies. He acknowledged the team’s growth and the energy they showed in the second half, which led to several scoring opportunities against Lens’ formidable squad.
Marco Asensio, who marked his PSG debut with a crucial goal, emphasized the team’s unity and collective effort. He highlighted the strong defensive and offensive cohesion and expressed his joy at the team’s first win of the season, especially playing at home.
Enrique further emphasized the importance of the win, especially against a top club like Lens. The win moved PSG up to fourth place in the Ligue 1 table with five points, trailing leaders Monaco and Marseille by a margin of two points.