Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) advanced to the next stage of the Coupe de France with a thrilling 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Lens. The match, which took place in the Round of 32, saw PSG face a tense and hard-fought battle, with the game ending 1-1 after regulation time. The penalty shootout, however, would be where PSG’s resilience shone through, thanks to an exceptional performance by goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, who stepped in for the injured Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The match began with PSG looking dangerous, but their first real chance came when Achraf Hakimi thought he had given PSG the lead in the 26th minute. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call, much to the frustration of the PSG players. It was Lens who would strike first after an hour of play. M'Bala Nzola’s attempted clearance off a shot from Abdukodir Khusanov deflected off the goalkeeper Safonov and found the back of the net, giving Lens the lead.
PSG responded quickly, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the equalizer just four minutes later. Ramos took advantage of a defensive blunder by Lens’ Kevin Danso and calmly slotted the ball into the top corner, bringing the match back to level terms. The game remained tied at 1-1 for the remainder of regular time, sending the match into penalties to determine who would progress to the next round.
In the penalty shootout, both teams converted their first three penalties. The pressure mounted as Lens’ M'Bala Nzola saw his shot saved by Safonov, giving PSG the advantage. PSG's Bradley Barcola stepped up next and calmly scored to extend their lead. Safonov, playing the role of hero, then saved a penalty from Andy Diouf, sealing the win for PSG. The final scoreline was 4-3 in favor of the Parisians, ensuring they advanced to the Round of 16.
Despite PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1, where they currently lead by ten points, the match against Lens was no easy task. PSG registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.74, coming from 18 shots on goal, while Lens had an xG of 1.05 with 12 attempts. Goncalo Ramos, who came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, played a crucial role in PSG’s comeback. He scored the equalizer and finished with a team-high xG of 0.71. Ramos also made history by becoming only the second player in PSG history to score in three consecutive Coupe de France matches as a substitute, a feat first achieved by Jacky Remond in 1970.
Matvey Safonov’s performance was nothing short of heroic. In addition to his penalty saves, he displayed composure throughout the match in difficult moments, ensuring PSG stayed in the contest. His performance on the penalty shootout was particularly significant, showing his ability to handle high-pressure situations. With Safonov’s intervention and Ramos' decisive equalizer, PSG not only secured their spot in the next round but also showcased their depth in squad talent, with substitutes stepping up when needed.
This dramatic win over Lens keeps PSG’s hopes of securing their 16th Coupe de France title alive. With their next challenge awaiting them against Espaly, PSG will look to continue their strong form and push forward in their pursuit of domestic success in the Coupe de France, alongside their Ligue 1 campaign. The victory against Lens demonstrated PSG’s ability to dig deep and find a way to win, even when the odds were stacked against them.
