Angel Di Maria leads PSG to 2-1 comeback win over champions Lille

Angel Di Maria arrange the equalizer after which netted the successful aim himself as Paris Saint-Germain rallied previous defending champion Lille 2-1 on Friday to stretch its lead on the prime of the French league to 10 factors.
Canada striker Jonathan David gave Lille the lead with a first-time effort within the thirty first minute, however Di Maria made the distinction within the second half.
The Argentina ahead offered a clipped move for Marquinhos, who volleyed house from six yards within the 74th. Di Maria then performed a one-two with Neymar earlier than burying the ball into the underside nook within the 88th.
Lille dominated the primary half, creating three large probabilities to only one for the short-handed PSG, which was and not using a handful of gamers. The guests threatened within the opening minute by hitting PSG on the quick break. Jonathan Ikone outpaced Presnel Kimpembe to make a low cross for Burak Yilmaz, whose effort was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Then Yilmaz discovered Ikone within the 14th, however the Lille winger missed the goal from 12 yards as he was postpone by Thilo Kehrer.
Lionel Messi had been uncertain due to a small muscle drawback however nonetheless began the sport for PSG. However, Messi struggled within the function of a false 9, volleying huge after a cross from Di Maria within the thirtieth, and was changed by Mauro Icardi at halftime.
“That was a precaution,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned concerning the substitution. “He couldn’t keep playing. I hope it’s not a big issue and he can be available for the next game.”
Lille opened the scoring by enjoying out from the again within the thirty first. The guests moved the ball from the precise wing to the left, the place Yilmaz rounded Kehrer to chop the ball again for David, who guided a first-time effort into the highest nook.
Already the highest scorer within the French league this season, David raised his tally to eight targets.
The Parisians’ solely good likelihood within the first half resulted from intricate passing. Georginio Wijnaldum fed Di Maria, who curled a shot huge from a good angle within the fortieth.
Lille had alternatives to double the lead after the break. Ikone slipped a throughball to David, who was denied by Donnarumma within the forty seventh. Then Lille hit PSG on the quick break within the 56th when David fed Yilmaz, whose lob was palmed away by Donnarumma.
With Lille exploiting the area behind the PSG fullbacks, coach Mauricio Pochettino made a tactical change and changed Kehrer and Juan Bernat with Colin Dagba and Nuno Mendes within the sixty fifth.
“I think it’s good to be flexible. Sometimes the plan doesn’t work,” Pochettino mentioned. “I think, little by little, maybe it’s an option that we need to think about and try to maybe adapt the team.”
Di Maria was PSG’s greatest menace all through, and compelled goalkeeper Ivo Grbic to parry his long-range strike within the 59th. The Argentine then crossed for Icardi, who headed over the bar within the 73rd, earlier than establishing Marquinhos for the equalizer a minute later.
PSG completed stronger and Neymar performed Icardi clear by way of on aim within the eighty fifth, however Grbic saved together with his leg. Neymar once more confirmed his deft contact when accumulating Di Maria’s move within the space and controlling it with one foot earlier than enjoying it again within the path of the Argentine, who scored with a low shot to protect PSG’s excellent document at house. The Parisians have received all their house video games at Parc des Princes in all competitions this season.
PSG missed the suspended Achraf Hakimi and Marco Verratti, the injured Sergio Ramos and Leandro Paredes and an contaminated Kylian Mbappe.
On Saturday, second-place Lens visits Lyon whereas Metz hosts backside aspect Saint-Etienne.