PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 4-1 Lyon: Hosts close in on title as Gonçalo Ramos hits double
PSG’s return to league action after a two-week European break saw Luis Enrique’s men host the league’s form team this spring – no side had amassed more than Lyon in the second half of the campaign, heading into tonight’s game. The spirit that has driven Les Gones’ turnaround under Pierre Sage – from rock bottom of the league to the race for Europe – was best exemplified in their frantic win over second-placed Brest last week.Les Parisiens, (not so) fresh off a comeback of their own in Catalonia, would have likely hoped for a softer landing back onto Ligue 1 territory than their future Coupe de France rivals.
But there was no sign of any post-Champions League hangover for the hosts, who were already two goals up six minutes into the game. Bradley Barcola, who scored the winner for Lyon in this very fixture last season, was involved in both. The first, by setting up Marco Asensio, whose shot was deflected in by Matić, and then by heading on the Spaniard’s corner for Beraldo to finish from point-blank range.
The ensuing lull in PSG’s attacking onslaught would come to an end on the half-hour mark, as an ostensibly static Lyon defence watched Achraf Hakimi’s cross float over and into the box for Gonçalo Ramos to power home a header. Ernest Nuamah would pull one back for the hosts, beating Donnarumma at his near post and nearly repeating the feat minutes later. It wasn’t long, though, before Luis Enrique’s men restored their three-goal cushion, as Ramos sled in to convert from Asensio’s through ball, after a counter-attack launched by Zaïre-Emery.
The second half saw Lyon seemingly trade in their slim chances of a comeback for some defensive solidity. Sage’s decision to move Maitland-Niles into midfield admittedly strengthened
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