Endrick inspires Lyon win over PSG as title race tightens in Ligue 1

PARIS: Brazilian teenager Endrick scored once and created another goal as Lyon beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, dealing a blow to the French champions' push for another Ligue 1 title.

PSG, who had reached the Champions League semi-finals by beating Liverpool away from home in midweek, left out several regular starters and produced an underwhelming display. Goncalo Ramos had a first-half penalty saved, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored only a late consolation for the home side.

The result was Luis Enrique's team's fifth league defeat of the season. PSG remain one point ahead of second-placed Lens and still have a game in hand. Victory at home to Nantes in a rearranged midweek fixture would move them four points clear with five matches remaining.

Lens had beaten Toulouse 3-2 on Friday, and PSG are still on course for a fifth successive domestic title. However, they must still travel to Lens next month, while also preparing for a Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

"You want a more close-fought league and you have it. Lens keep winning and it will be difficult until the end," Luis Enrique said. "That's football and now we just need to prepare for the upcoming games. We are going to be playing every three days now and we need to cope with that."

Endrick and Moreira put Lyon in control

Lyon made a fast start and went ahead in the seventh minute when Endrick beat PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov at his near post. The goal took his tally to seven for Lyon since joining on loan from Real Madrid in January.

The 17-year-old then turned provider 11 minutes later, releasing Afonso Moreira, who ran through and finished to make it 2-0.

PSG were handed a chance to reduce the deficit before the interval after Lucas Hernandez was fouled in the box by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but Ramos failed to convert from the spot. Vitinha was later forced off with an injury, and Ousmane Dembele, introduced in the second half, struck the bar before fellow substitute Kvaratskhelia found the net in stoppage time with a fine effort.

Lyon's victory significantly strengthens their bid to return to the Champions League for the first time in six years, having last featured in Europe's top club competition when they lost to Bayern Munich in the 2020 semi-finals.

Paulo Fonseca's side are level on 54 points with Lille in joint third after Lille were held to a 0-0 draw by Nice on Saturday.

"Endrick was decisive but I am especially happy with how hard he worked defensively," Fonseca said.

Race for Europe and relegation battle

Rennes are one point behind Lyon and Lille in fifth after a 3-0 win away to Strasbourg, while Marseille are another point back in sixth following a 2-0 defeat at Lorient on Saturday. Monaco sit two points further behind in seventh after recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Auxerre.

The top three in Ligue 1 qualify directly for next season's Champions League, while the fourth-placed team enters in the third qualifying round. Fifth place earns a Europa League spot and sixth place goes into the Conference League.

Earlier, Monaco's Folarin Balogun scored in an eighth straight Ligue 1 match, but his side still dropped points in their pursuit of European qualification. The United States forward converted a penalty shortly before the hour in Monaco's 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Auxerre.

Auxerre had led by two goals through Kevin Danois and Lassine Sinayoko before Ansu Fati pulled one back for Monaco on 56 minutes and Balogun equalised soon after. Balogun has now scored 18 times this season, including 10 goals in his last 10 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Rennes had little trouble against a Strasbourg side appearing tired after reaching the Conference League semi-finals on Thursday. Esteban Lepaul became Ligue 1's top scorer by netting his 17th goal of the campaign, while Breel Embolo and Mousa Al-Tamari were also on target.

At the bottom end of the table, Metz and Nantes moved closer to relegation after Metz lost 3-1 at home to Paris FC and Nantes drew 1-1 with Brest.