PSG beat Lyon to take Ligue 1 lead after eight rounds

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Lyon 2:0 at home in the eighth round of Ligue 1, France's top football division, and went top of the standings after eight rounds. The Paris club has 17 points, one more than second-placed Rennes.

PSG's season began poorly: the team lost to Lens in the French Super Cup and collected only two points from the first three league rounds. In recent weeks, however, the Parisians have beaten Manchester City and Barcelona.

How the match unfolded

In the opening ten minutes the hosts could have scored twice, but Désiré Doué and Fabián Ruiz both missed their chances. Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif also dealt with a dangerous shot from Ferran Torres. At the other end, Lyon's Júlian Durañona-style chance, as described in the report, fell to Julien Duranville, whose shot from a few metres was kept out by PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. Early in the second half PSG's João Neves sent a shot over the bar from inside the box, and Safonov later stopped an effort from Moussa Niakhaté.

The game was decided by substitutes. In the 72nd minute Belgian forward Mika Gotz set up 20-year-old Senny Mayulu, who struck accurately into the corner from the edge of the area for his first goal of the season. Late in normal time, a long pass from 19-year-old Quentin Ndjantou reached Gotz, who beat both a defender and the goalkeeper one-on-one.

What's next

PSG travel to Le Havre on Friday. Lyon host Angers on Saturday.