Paris Saint-Germain extended their commanding lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-2 triumph over Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, as Luis Enrique’s side once again showcased their dominance in the French top flight.
Despite a spirited effort from Moussa Niakhaté and his Lyon teammates, PSG’s firepower proved too much at the Groupama Stadium, where the visitors maintained their unbeaten run and moved thirteen points clear of second-placed Marseille.
The match kicked off with both sides showing attacking intent, but the first half saw few clear chances as Lyon managed to contain PSG’s offensive threats.
However, the break brought a shift in momentum. PSG emerged for the second half with renewed intensity, and it wasn’t long before they made their mark.
Achraf Hakimi broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to fire past Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.
The Moroccan full-back’s surge forward caught Lyon’s backline off guard, and his precise finish ignited PSG’s attack.
Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead. Combining pace with precision, Dembélé cut inside from the right flank before rifling the ball into the far corner, leaving Lopes with no chance and the home crowd in stunned silence.
Facing a daunting two-goal deficit, Lyon refused to fold. Their perseverance paid off in the 80th minute when Franco-Algerian midfielder Rayan Cherki found the net with a composed finish, giving the hosts a glimmer of hope.
The goal injected life back into the Groupama Stadium and set up a tense final stretch.
However, PSG quickly extinguished Lyon’s comeback hopes. Hakimi, enjoying one of his finest performances of the season, completed his brace in the 85th minute.
A quick counter-attack orchestrated by Vitinha saw the ball fall kindly to Hakimi, who calmly slotted it past Lopes to restore PSG’s two-goal cushion.
Although Lyon managed to pull another goal back through Corentin Tolisso in stoppage time, it was too little, too late.
PSG’s grip on the match remained firm, and they walked away with all three points, further solidifying their dominance in Ligue 1.
For Lyon, the defeat ended their mini-revival after back-to-back wins over Reims and Montpellier.
The result leaves them sixth in the standings, with hopes of European qualification still alive but increasingly under pressure.
Moussa Niakhaté, who marshaled Lyon’s defense, put in a valiant effort but was ultimately undone by PSG’s relentless attack.
Speaking after the match, PSG manager Luis Enrique praised his squad’s resilience and focus. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy coming here, but the team stayed composed, especially in the second half.
Achraf was outstanding today, and the way the players responded after conceding shows the mentality we have built.”
Lyon coach Pierre Sage admitted PSG’s quality made the difference but highlighted his team’s fighting spirit.
“We pushed until the end and showed character, but against a side like PSG, any lapse is costly.
We need to build on the positives and stay focused for the next challenges.”
With a commanding thirteen-point lead at the summit, PSG’s path to another Ligue 1 title looks increasingly clear, while Lyon faces a crucial run of fixtures in their pursuit of European football.
🔚 C’est terminé au @GroupamaStadium.
Malgré une fin de match folle, nos Gones s’inclinent ce soir face au PSG 🔴🔵
2-3 #OLPSG pic.twitter.com/Xso1giX4Cg
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 23, 2025
