In the closing match of Ligue 1's 12th matchday, Paris Saint-Germain edged Olympique Lyonnais 3-2 on Sunday. Joao Neves scored the decisive goal from a corner in added time, helping PSG reclaim the top spot. Lyon, despite strong resistance, remains in seventh place.
The match at Groupama Stadium was full of twists. Missing key players like Dembélé, Doué, Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes, PSG relied on its midfield with Vitinha as captain, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz. Lyon, also depleted by absences of Abner, Hateboer, Sulc, Mangala, Nuamah, and Fofana, lined up Greif - Kluivert, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico - Tessmann, Morton - Maitland-Niles, Merah, Moreira - Ghezzal. PSG started with Chevalier - Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernandez - Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz - Lee, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia.
PSG opened the scoring through Warren Zaïre-Emery, launched by Vitinha (0-1, 26th minute). Lyon equalized quickly on a counter by Moreira (1-1, 30th), but Kvaratskhelia restored the lead with a curled shot (1-2, 33rd). At halftime, it was 1-2. In the second half, Maitland-Niles leveled with a brilliant lob (2-2, 50th). Tagliafico was sent off for a second yellow (90th+3), and Neves sealed the win with a header from a corner (2-3, 90th+).
Vitinha was omnipresent, key in Zaïre-Emery's and Kvaratskhelia's goals, his first in Ligue 1. Kvaratskhelia shone on the left wing. For Lyon, Maitland-Niles's gem lit up the stadium, but Zabarnyi appeared worrying in defense, and Mayulu had a tough night. This win, five days after a 1-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, puts PSG top with a two-point lead over Lens and Marseille. Lyon, seven points back, stays seventh.
