PSG continued their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 after beating Lyon 3-1 at home
Achraf Hakimi had to plead with PSG fans to stop their discriminatory chants
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By ALEX BYWATER
Published: 18:06 EST, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 18:17 EST, 15 December 2024
Paris Saint-Germain captain Achraf Hakimi was forced to appeal to his team’s fanatical fans to stop anti-Lyon chants after the Ligue 1 clash between the two sides was briefly paused.
Early in the second half at the Parc des Princes, referee Benoit Bastien stopped the match as the home supporters abused their opposition’s followers.
In French football’s top division this season, there are new rules to crack down on discriminatory chants which is why Bastien stepped in.
With the game in danger of being called off or indefinitely suspended, defender Hakimi ran behind his team’s goal during the break to try and appease the PSG loyalists.
It eventually worked, but only after a significant stoppage. In the end, Luis Enrique’s men did enough to earn a 3-1 win to keep them top of the table.
PSG are now seven points clear at the summit and yet to lose in the league this season.
Achraf Hakimi told the PSG fans to stop offensive chants in fear of the game being suspended
New rules have been introduced in Ligue 1 to combat the league's problem of offensive chants
PSG have now won 11 games and drawn four in Ligue 1 this season, as they sit top of the table
After watching his Manchester City side slip to an eighth defeat in 11 matches in all competitions following a derby loss to their biggest rivals Manchester United, Pep Guardiola’s focus was unlikely to be on the Parc des Princes on Sunday night.
Had it been, the City boss would have been given a firm reminder of the potential for more pain to come on the horizon early in 2025 but also of the quality of a possible future Premier League star in Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.
City will face PSG in the French capital on January 22 with their Champions League qualifying hopes in serious doubt. Guardiola’s men, for the first time really under his trophy-laden leadership, are in real trouble. Their 2-1 defeat by United was the latest blow.
On the other side of the Channel, and just a few hours after the final whistle at The Etihad, PSG were merely stamping their mark as the leaders of Ligue 1.
Gone are superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. This is a different PSG.
But, while it is undoubtedly not as good individually as past Parisian outfits – and certainly contains less stardust – it is perhaps a better collective outfit despite the dominance of youth.
They were deserved winners over a Lyon side which contained the highly-rated Cherki – who remains of interest to Premier League teams including Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, West Ham, Newcastle, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. PSG themselves are also monitoring Cherki, as are Germans Borussia Dortmund.
Former Palace man Wilfried Zaha, now with Lyon after a summer move from Turkish side Galatasaray, was again absent. Zaha has been completely frozen out by Lyon while on loan in France and will surely become of interest to Premier League sides in the January transfer window.
The champions are seeking their fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title and have never gone invincible
Luis Enrique has only lost two league games since joining PSG in summer 2023 and 10 in total
Lyon continue to battle severe financial problems – which could yet see them relegated from Ligue 1 – so are likely to be open to selling Cherki if the price is right.
Cherki was anonymous as PSG swept into a 2-0 lead inside 14 minutes.
Ousmane Dembele had a simple finish for the opener before Vitinha’s penalty made it a double. Desire Doue did brilliantly for both goals, running clear to assist Dembele and then being fouled to allow Vitinha to slot home from the spot in the coolest of fashions.
But, as his team slowly got a foothold with former United and Chelsea man Nemanja Matic anchoring midfield and ex-Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right back, Cherki grew into the game. His ability was obvious, his touches silky.
Out of nowhere, he produced a wonderful pass to set up Georgian Georges Mikautadze.
Cherki drew PSG defenders to him like a moth to a flame before dinking his assist forward.
Doue had an unbelievable finish ruled out for offside at the start of the second half before the crowd trouble began. PSG’s fans relented to Hakimi’s wishes, but only after signing further chants which indicated they cared little for the referee’s views.
Cherki was surprisingly withdrawn just after the hour mark in favour of former Brentford and West Ham man Said Benrahma. He is not yet the finished product, far from it in fact.
Lyon now trail third-place Monaco by five points, losing ground in the Champions League race
However, his ability will surely see him play at a higher level in the future even if Lyon were defeated here.
Goncalo Ramos’ late finish on a counterattack made the points safe for PSG, whose supporters restarted their insulting chants towards the end of the game.
PSGAchraf Hakimi