LENS: A late goal from Bradley Barcola earned Paris St-Germain a 2-1 victory at RC Lens on Saturday to keep the French champions well clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.

Barcola struck four minutes from time when he met a pass from Joao Neves on the left of the box and sent a powerful shot into the top right corner.

PSG lead the table with 46 points while Lens are seventh on 27 points.

Lens stunned the visitors nine minutes before the break when M’Bala Nzola found space at the back post to meet a flicked corner, taking his time to calmly slot the ball home from close range.

Nzola thought he had doubled the lead for Lens early in the second half when he received a through ball, raced into the box and forced it into the net, only for the offside flag to be raised.

PSG equalised just before the hour mark when Barcola fought his way into the penalty area and squared the ball to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz who calmly slotted home.

Both sides had chances in the dying minutes before Barcola struck to secure PSG’s 14th league win of the season.

“We are really pleased to continue our positive dynamic before going into a competition which is important to us,” said coach Luis Enrique.

Kvaratskhelia, brought in to contest a spot on the left wing with Barcola, was not involved in Lens, having only completed his reported 70 million-euro ($72m) transfer to PSG from Napoli late on Friday.

Meanwhile, Brest warmed up for their return to Champions League action by winning 2-1 away to struggling Brittany rivals Rennes.

Hugo Magnetti and Ludovic Ajorque got the goals for Brest at Roazhon Park, with Ludovic Blas pulling one back for the home side.

It was a sixth win in seven games for Brest, who play Shakhtar Donetsk in Germany on Wednesday knowing a victory there could see them clinch a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Olympique Lyonnais were held to a 0-0 draw by Toulouse, meaning they stay fifth but have now won just one of their last four league outings.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025