PSG Return to Ligue 1 Summit with Comfortable Win over Auxerre
Paris Saint-Germain climbed back to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday with a 2–0 victory over Auxerre, giving Luis Enrique’s side a timely boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Defenders Illia Zabarnyi and Lucas Beraldo delivered the goals at Parc des Princes as PSG responded to last week’s 1–0 loss in Marseille.
The win moved the champions three points clear after six games, with Marseille, Monaco, Lyon, and Strasbourg chasing closely behind.
Zabarnyi broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark, finishing a Vitinha cross that followed a short corner.
Beraldo doubled the lead early in the second half, heading home from a Senny Mayulu delivery.
Auxerre created chances to fight back, but Kevin Danois struck the post, and Danny Namaso forced goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier into a strong save.
PSG managed the game with a rotated squad. Ousmane Dembélé, fresh from winning the Ballon d’Or, watched from the stands while recovering from a thigh injury. Marquinhos, Joao Neves, and Desire Doué also missed out.
Stand-in captain, Vitinha left in the first half, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went off at halftime, raising concerns ahead of Wednesday’s showdown in Barcelona.
Luis Enrique handed opportunities to several youngsters. Teenagers Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye started, while Quentin Ndjantou and Mathis Jangeal made senior debuts from the bench in the second half.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Marseille came from behind to beat Strasbourg 2–1 on Friday with a stoppage-time winner from Amir Murillo, while Monaco slumped to a 3–1 defeat at Lorient.
Captain Thilo Kehrer saw red before Mohamed Bamba put Lorient ahead, and substitute Pablo Pagis added two late goals.
Ansu Fati netted a stoppage-time penalty for Monaco, but it was little consolation for a side that has now conceded nine goals in three matches.
Monaco, still waiting for Paul Pogba to make his debut, face Manchester City in the Champions League midweek, while Lorient celebrated a statement win after promotion.
In Saturday’s other fixture, Toulouse and Nantes shared the spoils in a 2–2 draw.
