Ligue 1 2024-25: PSG edges past Saint-Etienne to extend lead at the top
Ligue 1 2024-25: PSG edges past Saint-Etienne to extend lead at the top
Ousmane Dembele scored twice in the first half as Paris Saint-Germain beat Saint-Etienne 2-1 on Sunday to sit seven points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table halfway through the season.
Dembele opened the scoring with an individual effort on 13 minutes and then netted a penalty midway through the first half as PSG threatened to run riot against its struggling opponent.
However, a Saint-Etienne side sitting in the relegation play-off place stemmed the tide and pulled a goal back through a Zuriko Davitashvili free-kick in the 64th minute.
PSG, which won the French Champions Trophy last weekend against Monaco in Doha, nevertheless held on and has won 13 and lost none of its 17 domestic league outings this season.
“I would like to congratulate Saint-Etienne because I loved the way they played, with no fear, attacking and pressing high. They were very daring and brave,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose team maintained its habit of being wasteful in front of goal.
“Since the start of the season we have created lots of chances but struggled to score goals, but I think tonight we played pretty well in general,” said the Spaniard.
His side is on course to claim an 11th title in 13 years, with this victory at the Parc des Princes coming in response to nearest challengers Marseille’s 2-1 win away at Rennes on Saturday.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille side look like the only potential rival for Paris in the second half of the season, with third-placed Monaco now 12 points adrift of the leader after a 2-2 draw at Nantes on Friday.
