PSG vs Lens Ligue 1 LIVE Football Score 23/04/2022

PSG vs Lens Ligue 1 LIVE Football Score 23/04/2022

Paris Saint-Germain’s run of four consecutive victories in the league has led them ever so close to sealing the Ligue 1 title. The league leaders are currently sitting at the top of the table with a 15-point advantage over second-placed Marseille. Now only one point away from confirming their status as Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain will aim to finish the job with four games to spare against Lens on Saturday night at the Parc des Princes.

With just five games remaining until the season comes to a close, a draw in their upcoming clash against RC Lens could be enough to confirm the title. Reclaiming the Ligue 1 crown this season will see PSG equal Saint-Etienne’s record of ten league titles, effectively becoming the joint-most successful team in the history of the competition. Seven of PSG’s nine Ligue 1 triumphs have come under the Qatari ownership, thanks to their lavish policy in the transfer market and the ability to lure some of the most talented players in world football.

Yet, it has been a difficult season for the Parisian heavyweights. They have been knocked out cheaply from the UEFA Champions League and Coupe de France. Sealing the Ligue 1 title could be the only positive, although their job on the weekend won’t be made any easier by a Lens side regarded as one of the most organised teams in the league. Under the tutelage of Franck Haise, the visitors have done exceptionally well and are in contention for a top-five finish this season. Lens did hold PSG to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture, and repeating the feat could put them in a decent position in their quest to secure European football next season.

Pochettino has hinted he may employ the 3-5-2 again this weekend, which means we could witness a defensive combination of Kimpembe, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos for the first time this season. Keylor Navas, meanwhile, should retain his place in goal following an impressive performance against Angers.

In midfield, the return of Verratti could see Gini Wijnaldum return to the bench while Danilo Pereira should retain his place as the number six. While there might usually be a third midfielder, Pochettino could opt for a 3-4-3 in order to accommodate the returning Neymar and Messi in the attacking lineup.

It means Danilo and Verratti could operate in the double-pivot, forming the second line of press alongside the wing-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. They will look to complement the front three consisting of Messi, Neymar and the mercurial Kylian Mbappe.


Pochettino has no shortage of alternatives, though, with Angel Di Maria, for one, desperate for some game-time following an exceptional performance against Angers. Youngsters like Dina Ebimbe and Xavi Simons could hope for some minutes as well, although Mauro Icardi has been ruled out due to a fresh injury.

Haidara is coming back from a suspension and should replace Deiver Machado at left wing-back. Jonathan Clauss, meanwhile, remains a guaranteed starter on the opposite flank, with the two expected to offer attacking width going forward.

However, the two wing-backs may also need to be careful of the threat from the opposing wide players, so it won’t be surprising to see them help out the three centre-backs in Christopher Wooh, Kevin Danso and Jonathan Gradit for a large part of the game.

In midfield, there were slight doubts over the participation of Cheick Doucoure, but the 22-year-old is likely to return to full fitness. He could accompany Seko Fofana and David Costa in the second line of press while Gael Kakuta may serve as an alternative, especially if coach Franck Haise opts for a bit more attacking thrust in the middle of the park.

As for the attack, Florian Sotoca and on-loan PSG frontman Arnaud Kalimuendo remain favourites to spearhead the Lens frontline. But in Ignatius Ganago and Przemyslaw Frankowski, Haise has two players who could make a telling impact off the bench.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side eased to a 3-0 success against Angers in midweek, while Franck Haise’s men ran out 2-0 winners at home to Montpellier HSC.

In order to regain their rightful Ligue 1 crown on Wednesday night, PSG simply had to better Marseille’s result against Nantes, and Mauricio Pochettino’s men did their bit as Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos put a lacklustre Angers side to the sword.

For a short while, it appeared that PSG would be heading into gameweek 33 with the medals already around their necks, but Marseille came from behind to beat Nantes 3-2 and ensure that the title race would mathematically remain alive for just a little while longer.

With only five games left to play in the 2021-22 season, PSG boast a 15-point lead over their closest challengers at the top of the standings, meaning that a draw at home to Lens would be enough for Les Parisiens to be crowned French champions for the 10th time in their history.

Even if PSG do fail to clinch the crown this weekend, fixtures with Strasbourg, Metz, Troyes and Montpellier present the champions-elect with magnificent opportunities to do so, but Pochettino will no doubt want to wrap up the title as quickly as possible before an uncertain summer will befall him.

Victory over Angers represented a fourth Ligue 1 success on the bounce for this rampageous PSG side, who have also won each of their last eight league games at the Parc des Princes, and Lens will somehow attempt to spoil the title party in the capital to further their own continental ambitions.

As is the case with their title-chasing hosts, Lens have also strung a run of successive victories together in their bid to achieve their end-of-season goals, and a spot in the top five is certainly not out of the question for the 2019-20 Ligue 2 runners-up.

David Costa and Ignatius Ganago were both on target either side of the half-time whistle for Les Sang et Or in their midweek victory over Montpellier, with Haise’s side now three for three after previously sinking Lille and Nice in an eye-catching spate of results.

Updated: April 23, 2022 — 5:15 pm

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