PSG Extend Lead with 3-1 Win over Lyon in Match Marred by Offensive Chants

 Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Olympique Lyonnais - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - December 15, 2024 Paris St Germain's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Olympique Lyonnais - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - December 15, 2024 Paris St Germain's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
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PSG Extend Lead with 3-1 Win over Lyon in Match Marred by Offensive Chants

 Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Olympique Lyonnais - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - December 15, 2024 Paris St Germain's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Olympique Lyonnais - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - December 15, 2024 Paris St Germain's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)

Runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain claimed a 3-1 home win over Olympique Lyonnais with early goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha plus a late strike from Goncalo Ramos on Sunday in a match that was temporarily suspended due to offensive chanting by fans.

PSG have 37 points after 15 matches, seven ahead of Olympique de Marseille in second. Lyon are fifth with 25 points.

The capital club opened the scoring after eight minutes when Desire Doue made a brilliant run and cut the ball back to Dembele, who slotted home with a composed finish.

The hosts doubled the lead after 14 minutes when Corentin Tolisso fouled Doue and Vitinha converted the penalty.

However, Lyon's Georges Mikautadze pulled one back five minutes before the break, latching onto a brilliant pass and calmly chipping into the net from inside the box.

Doue thought he had scored in the 52nd minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Moments later, the referee temporarily suspended play due to offensive chanting by PSG supporters in the stands, which led to a warning being displayed on the stadium's screen.

"The match could be stopped or even lost for the club," the message stated.

PSG captain Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha approached the fans to urge them to stop, prompting loud booing before play eventually resumed after some minutes.

Ramos put the finishing touch to PSG´s victory with their third two minutes from time soon after being brought on as a substitute.



Mbappe Hit 'Rock Bottom' with Missed Penalty at Bilbao

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
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Mbappe Hit 'Rock Bottom' with Missed Penalty at Bilbao

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo

Kylian Mbappe hit "rock bottom" with a penalty miss at Athletic Bilbao earlier this month as he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings at Real Madrid but the French forward said he used that disappointment to fuel his recent return to form.

Mbappe left Paris St Germain in the close season as the French club's all-time top scorer but his move to Real has been plagued by teething problems, while a hamstring injury and a thigh issue have also hampered his settling-in time.

However, since missing his second penalty in a week in a 2-1 loss at Bilbao Mbappe has scored four goals in all competitions, including the opener in Sunday's 4-2 LaLiga win over Sevilla, according to Reuters.

"I took a lot of positives from the Bilbao game. I hit rock bottom," he told Real Madrid TV. "I missed a penalty and I realised at that moment I have to give my all for this shirt and play with personality."

Mbappe now has 10 goals in 16 league appearances, helping Real end the calendar year second in the table, just a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

"I can score a lot more, I know I have a lot more to give. The last few games I've played better," he said.

"I think we now know each other better. I've joined the team and that changed a lot of things. The settling-in period is over, as the coach says. I feel very comfortable in the team and I play better with the others on the pitch."

Real next travel to face Valencia in LaLiga on Jan. 3.