It was not a fixture that was quite as straightforward as the result might suggest, yet Laurent Blanc’s side almost completely controlled the game and they head into their midweek Champions League clash with Chelsea in the best possible manner.
A first-half free kick from David Luiz and a penalty from an inconsistent Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the second half built the foundation for the capital side, only for Lens to give them a late scare by pulling one back via Yoann Touzghar. Blanc, however, was able to call upon Blaise Matuidi and Javier Pastore from the bench to make decisive cameos.
Motivated by Marseille’s stunning 6-1 success at Toulouse on Friday, the 4-1 win now piiles the pressure on Lyon ahead of their tough trip to Montpellier on Sunday. And for all the talk in the English press of a Chelsea side chasing the treble, PSG are still on course to win a quadruple of major trophies this season.
Saturday’s fixture against an embattled Lens side fighting financial problems off the field and relegation concerns on it was ideal for the French champions. It allowed Blanc the luxury of resting a number of tired players; indeed Thiago Silva was left out of the squad altogether. At the same time the coach had the opportunity to sharpen up Ibrahimovic and Thiago Motta, who have been absent of late due to suspension and injury respectively.
When things got nervy, Matuidi, Pastore and Edinson Cavani were all on hand to provide quality from the bench and reinvigorate the side in the closing 30 minutes. Although Chelsea will have had a week’s rest by Wednesday, fatigue cannot be used as a legitimate excuse should PSG suffer elimination.
There were rough edges, of course. Blanc would not have wanted to wait until the closing 10 minutes before the points were finally made secure. The coach will certainly feel that against opponents as pragmatic and organised as Chelsea, the finishing of his squad will need to improve.
Ibrahimovic, for example, could only clip the bar when in space in the first half before sending a tame chip into goalkeeper Rudy Riou’s hands when clean through. Ezequiel Lavezzi, though, was the greatest culprit. Having rounded the visiting custodian, he took an age to sort his feet and was ultimately robbed with the goal gaping by Ludovic Baal.
Regardless of how Chelsea choose to approach the next game - they will not present Blanc’s men with nearly so many scoring opportunities. At Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this season, the Blues have shipped only five goals. In the Champions League, meanwhile, they conceded twice in the group stage. Jonathan Silva’s strike for Sporting CP was little more than a footnote in a meaningless game that Mourinho’s side were already in control of.
PSG might have shown in the first leg of the tie in Paris that they have the tools to trouble Chelsea, they were also remarkably profligate. Given their dominance in that encounter, and the quality of chances they fashioned in the second half, they should not be travelling to England level at 1-1.
Having failed to score at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago, the reality is that if PSG are to keep their own dreams of the quadruple alive and dash those treble hopes of Chelsea, they will need to find the net this time around.
All things considered, though, their preparations could not have been much better.
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