Everton and Nottingham Forest have confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the competition’s financial rules, the league has said.
The league issued a statement on Monday afternoon which stated the clubs had confirmed to it that they had breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) after sustaining losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period up to and including the 2022-23 season.
Both cases have now been referred to the chair of the independent judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
The clubs could face points penalties, with Everton having been docked 10 points last November over an earlier PSR breach. That sanction is the subject of an appeal.
The league’s statement, which came shortly after each club had released their own statements confirming a referral, read: “Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.
“In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The league will make no further comment until that time.”
Everton and Nottingham Forest have confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the competition’s financial rules, the league has said.
The league issued a statement on Monday afternoon which stated the clubs had confirmed to it that they had breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) after sustaining losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period up to and including the 2022-23 season.
Both cases have now been referred to the chair of the independent judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
The clubs could face points penalties, with Everton having been docked 10 points last November over an earlier PSR breach. That sanction is the subject of an appeal.
The league’s statement, which came shortly after each club had released their own statements confirming a referral, read: “Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.
“In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The league will make no further comment until that time.”
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri insists he is planning for the longer term as well as focusing on the present and is not concerned about silencing his critics.
Allegri’s in-form side can cut the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan back to two points with victory at home against Sassuolo on Tuesday night.
Juve have gone three seasons without mounting a sustained challenge for the Serie A title since being crowned champions for the ninth consecutive time in 2019-20.
But Allegri does not share some fans’ obsession with reclaiming the crown this season, pointing out there is still much work to do just to secure a top-four finish.
He told a press conference: “We spoke as a team and we know that we’re still missing a lot of things to reach our goal of Champions League qualification, we’re taking things one step at a time, so tomorrow we have Sassuolo and then we’ll think about Lecce.
“We need to avoid making long-term predictions and it’s better to stay focused on the short-term.
“I’m not thinking about whether or not I’ve won the fans back on side, we’re doing well because of the guys who go out onto the pitch and win matches.
“Everybody around the team does our best to put the team in the best place to go out and do just that.
“There are two big differences between ourselves and Inter. The first is that they are a team built to win the Scudetto.
“We started off on a different path and we have to keep working without the obsession of winning the Scudetto.
“We are Juventus and we have to do our very best, but football doesn’t end on May 25. We also have to think ahead to the seasons to come for this group of players.”
Juve will be without suspended defender Federico Gatti, but Allegri confirmed both Adrien Rabiot and Federico Chiesa are back in contention after injury.
Italy striker Moise Kean has not featured since early December and is continuing to work his way back from a leg injury.
The Bianconeri are bidding to extend their unbeaten league run to 15 matches – 17 in all competitions – but lost for the only time in the league this season at Tuesday night’s opponents in September.
Allegri added: “The group has worked well, as always, in the last few days and we know the importance of tomorrow’s game.
“We had a bad night in the first game against Sassuolo and we know we’re coming up against a good team.
“The three points up for grabs tomorrow are important and we’ll have to be very careful tactically.
“Sassuolo are dangerous if you make mistakes against them, so we’ll have to be switched on.”
Lamine Camara’s double helped Senegal get their Africa Cup of Nations title defence off to a winning start as they recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia.
Pape Gueye put the 2021 champions ahead just four minutes in, while Gambia were reduced to 10 men when Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Camara doubled their lead – seven minutes after the break – and wrapped up victory in style with a stunning curling strike in the closing stages.
Senegal took the lead in the fourth minute when Camara’s cross was cleared as far as Sadio Mane and the former Liverpool forward laid the ball off to Gueye on the edge of the box, who smashed it first time into the bottom corner.
Musa Barrow fired a free-kick from a tight angle into the side-netting for Gambia and compatriot Ali Sowe had a great chance from a corner, but the cross was slightly too high as his header flashed wide.
Gambia were handed a blow when – just before the break – Adams was shown a red card, eight minutes into first-half stoppage-time.
The Teranga Lions took advantage of their extra player seven minutes into the second-half when Ismaila Sarr played Camara through and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner to extend their lead.
They were nearly gifted a third when Yankuba Minteh found Habib Diallo in the six-yard box, but goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye managed to smother the attempt.
Gambia had two half-chances from Omar Colley, but Senegal remained in control with Gaye being called into action again to deny Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson from close range.
Camara capped off the afternoon as he completed his brace in the 86th minute when Iliman Ndiaye weaved past the Gambia defence to find the Metz midfielder, who curled the ball first time into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards out to seal victory.
Reggae Boyz striker Shamar Nicholson produced an excellent display to help Clermont Foot get a 2-1 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 action at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday.
Nicholson first opened the scoring by capitalizing on a mistake from Nantes keeper Alban Lafont to slot home from just inside the box in the 29th minute for his second goal in as many games.
Just after the second half resumption, Florent Mollet got the equalizer for Nantes before, in the 89th minute, Nicholson provided the assist for the match-winning goal by Jim Allevinah.
Clermont are currently 17th in the 18-team Ligue 1 table with 14 points from 18 games while Nantes are 13th with 18 points from as many games.
Newport manager Graham Coughlan hopes to land a glamorous FA Cup tie against Manchester United – 45 years after the Red Devils reduced him to tears by losing the so-called “Five-minute final” to Arsenal.
County stand to make £400,000 if they win their third-round replay at non-league Eastleigh on Tuesday after 12-time cup winners United were drawn to visit the winners on January 28.
Coughlan, a Manchester United supporter growing up in his native Dublin, was only four years old when Arsenal led the 1979 final at Wembley 2-0 and had one hand on the trophy.
Goals from Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy in the final five minutes almost handed United a reprieve, but Arsenal won the cup at the death when Alan Sunderland turned in Graham Rix’s cross and the final went into FA Cup folklore.
“I actually shed a few tears when we got beat in the 1979 FA Cup final,” said Coughlan.
“I was only a little nipper and my dad would tell me. I had to wait until ’83 for the replay against Brighton to see United lift a trophy for the first time.
“Then ’85 and the Norman Whiteside goal against Everton. All those memories, the cup runs and the success they’ve had. That was growing up as a kid.”
Coughlan began his career in England at Blackburn – “I played against the Nevilles, Giggs and Beckham in the reserves when they were coming through the system” – and by his own admission was “not good enough to play in the Premier League”.
The tough-tackling defender played over 500 games for clubs including Plymouth, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday and Shrewsbury, and arrived at Newport following managerial spells at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield.
With Newport on the brink of being bought by former Swansea owner Huw Jenkins, Coughlan is aware of the massive financial boost that the Sky Bet League Two club will receive from a United tie that will be televised live to the nation.
“Both clubs will want to go on and push on and get into the next round, obviously the prize and finances and the day out that it is,” said Coughlan.
“But let’s concentrate on the game, let’s not start having this pantomime of Man United, finances and all sorts of nonsense.
“It’s a game of football, let’s get our heads around the game of football. It’s 90 minutes, possibly 120, club v club, team v team that is where we are at. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The original tie at Rodney Parade was drawn 1-1 after James Clarke had fired the Exiles ahead against opponents who had been reduced to 10 men.
But Chris Maguire’s late penalty earned Eastleigh, 11th in the National League and 18 places below Newport in the football pyramid, the chance of a crack at Erik ten Hag’s United.
Coughlan said: “I don’t think there is a favourite. You can turn around and say ‘they rested players on Saturday and were able to take their eye off the ball’.
“We didn’t have that luxury, but I didn’t think there were any favourites in the first game.
“Both clubs are similar. Eastleigh might be in a better place squad-wise and wages-wise than ourselves.
“But I’ve got a great group of lads that will hopefully do themselves justice.”
Oscar Bobb’s brilliant finish clinched Manchester City a crucial win at Newcastle on Saturday and was the 20-year-old’s first Premier League goal.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at 10 other memorable first Premier League goals.
Alan Shearer (Blackburn) – 1992
Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals and his first, scored on the opening weekend of the new era, was a typical block-buster, lashed into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area in Blackburn’s 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace.
Paulo Wanchope (Derby) – 1997
Nine days after Derby had signed Wanchope, the little-known Costa Rican announced himself on his debut in style, collecting the ball deep in his own half and galloping past four Manchester United defenders before side-footing a low finish into the bottom corner in a 3-2 win at Old Trafford.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – 1999
Gerrard did not score his first Liverpool goal until his 25th appearance, but it was worth the wait. He burst to the edge of the penalty area after receiving a pass 50 yards from goal and brilliantly stepped round two defenders before firing into the bottom corner in a 4-1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday.
Wayne Rooney (Everton) – 2002
Rooney became the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer at the time, five days before his 17th birthday, when stepping off the bench to halt Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten run with a stunning last-minute 25-yard strike in Everton’s 2-1 home win.
James Milner (Leeds) – 2002
Less than two months later, Milner replaced Rooney as the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer. Aged 16 years and 356 days, the Leeds substitute evaded two tacklers on the edge of the box and unleashed a brilliant finish inside the far post to seal his hometown club a 2-0 win against Chelsea.
Neil Mellor (Liverpool) – 2004
In his second Premier League start, Mellor lashed home a dipping 30-yard volley with virtually the last kick of the game in front of the Anfield Kop to snatch a 2-1 victory for Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool against defending champions Arsenal.
James Vaughan (Everton) – 2005
Vaughan’s predatory strike from Kevin Kilbane’s cross sealed a dream debut for Everton in a 4-0 home win against Crystal Palace and made him the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer at the age of 16 years, eight months and 27 days.
Danny Welbeck (Man Utd) – 2008
Welbeck marked his Premier League debut for Manchester United, 11 days shy of his 18th birthday, by rifling home a curling 30-yard shot into the top corner after replacing Park Ji-sung in the second half of a 5-0 win against Stoke at Old Trafford.
Danny Rose (Tottenham) – 2010
The then teenage left-back enjoyed an unforgettable Premier League debut for Tottenham after scoring a wonder goal in a 2-1 win against derby rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane, crashing home a swerving 30-yard volley after Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had punched clear a corner.
Anthony Martial (Man Utd) – 2015
Ten days after signing from Monaco for £36million to become the world’s most expensive teenager, Martial scored a stunning solo effort on his debut in a 3-1 win against Liverpool, cutting inside from the left wing and beating three defenders before finishing with aplomb into the bottom corner.
Tunisia head coach Jalel Kadri has warned his players the opening matches of the Africa Cup of Nations have already shown they can take nothing for granted in the tournament.
Tunisia are strong favourites for their Group E opener against Namibia, but Kadri pointed to Ghana’s shock defeat to Cape Verde and Mozambique’s draw against Egypt on Sunday when saying that upsets are always possible.
“Namibia is a serious opponent, and we don’t have any easy team,” Kadri said. “The results in the opening rounds have shown that there is no small team in Africa as we saw, so we need to show them respect and play to our best ability. The opening matches have shown that.”
While Tunisia are taking part in their 21st edition of the tournament, Namibia have qualified for only the fourth time in their history. On each of their previous appearances they finished bottom of their group, and they have lost seven of their nine matches.
Tunisia cruised through qualifying, conceding only one goal in six games, but have reason to be wary having failed to win any of their last four opening fixtures at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The goal for the 2004 winners is to improve on last time out, when they reached the quarter-finals, but Kadri must prove wrong a number of doubters back home, and will be without the retired Wahbi Khazri and young midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who has made himself unavailable to sort out his club future.
“We will try to go as far as possible,” he said. “We have teams that are good quality so we will try to win each match and go as far as possible. We must be respectful to all opponents.
“There are Africa’s best teams that are present, so ours is to do our best in every match and take it game by game.”
Motherwell midfielder Callum Slattery has been ruled out for the season after suffering a serious knee injury in training.
Slattery has been a regular feature in Motherwell’s midfield and joins Lennon Miller on the sidelines.
“First off, I want to wish Callum the very best in his recovery,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said on the club’s website.
“Losing him is a massive blow for the team and the nature (of how) he has picked up this injury only makes the situation worse for the player.
“We’ve not had our problems to seek with regards to injuries this season and this is another hurdle we have to deal with.”
Former Southampton player Slattery’s three-year contract expires in the summer. The 24-year-old has made 93 appearances for Motherwell.
Kettlewell said: “Callum will now begin his recovery and the staff here will look after him every step of the way and I have no doubts, with the Callum’s attitude and strong mentality, he will come back stronger and ready to go.”
Manchester City snatched a last-gasp win over Newcastle on Saturday as they look to kick-start their traditional title charge in the second half of the Premier League season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won five of the last six titles and here, the PA news agency looks at their formidable record in the run-in.
Strong in the home stretch
City have won at least 14 of their final 19 games in each of the last six seasons, with a minimum of 45 points in that stretch (2.37 per game) in their five title-winning campaigns and 43 in 2019-20 when they finished second to Liverpool.
That includes the Premier League’s only 100-point tally in 2017-18 and the memorable battle the following season in which Liverpool set another record by finishing second with 97 points.
That season required City’s best run-in of all, winning 18 of their last 19 games and the last 14 in succession to stay a point ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side, who themselves finished with nine straight wins.
City won 14 of their last 19 games in 2019-20 but lost four – to Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Southampton – as they finished 18 points behind the Reds, who had built up a dominant lead by winning 18 and drawing one before the halfway point.
Guardiola’s side have won 15, 14 and 15 of their 19 games in the second half of the three seasons since, winning the title on each occasion. That includes another one-point winning margin in 2021-22, when Liverpool won 16 and drew three in the run-in.
In the six completed seasons going back to 2017-18, City won 90 out of 114 games in the second half of the campaign to earn 280 points. Oscar Bobb’s late goal at St James’ Park on Saturday provided just the start required for another strong finish to the campaign this year.
Liverpool rank second with 254 points in the equivalent games, with Manchester United the only other team over 200 at a distant 208. City do also have 267 points in the first halves of those seasons, 18 more than Liverpool with the established ‘big six’ all above 200.
Let battle recommence
Liverpool are again the main rivals for this season’s title, currently top of the league and two points ahead of City having lost only one game.
Aston Villa are alongside City on 43 points but have played a game more and won only one of their last four, with Arsenal slipping three points further back in fourth after a run of one win in five. Spurs also have 40 points but, like Villa, have played 21 games.
With City and Liverpool’s goal difference also level on plus-25, the stage is set for another memorable fight over the second half of the season.
City’s experience and winning record in those battles will aid their bid, as is the keenly awaited return of Erling Haaland – still joint-top of the Golden Boot standings with 14 goals despite missing the last five games.
He is alongside Mohamed Salah, who was ever-present for Liverpool’s first 20 games but now faces his own absence of potentially up to four matches while away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah also leads the league in assists, alongside Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with eight.
Former Chelsea forward Timo Werner believes he can make a big impact under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham without being “the main man” scoring goals.
Much was expected of the Germany international when he completed a £53million switch to Stamford Bridge in 2020 after scoring goals aplenty at RB Leipzig.
But the pacy forward failed to transfer his German scoring feats into the Premier League and returned to his former club for just £25m after two seasons in west London.
View this post on Instagram
The 27-year-old is back in English football after joining Spurs on loan – with Son Heung-min at the Asian Cup – and provided an assist on his debut in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Manchester United.
“We wanted to win the three points, that’s the only not-so-good thing but we did a very good game,” Werner, whose six-month loan includes an option to make the deal permanent, said.
“It’s not easy to win at Old Trafford and yeah I’m very pleased with my game.
“I enjoyed it out there and with the assist, it was a very good debut for Spurs.”
Asked whether supporters saw the best of him at Chelsea, the Germany international said: “That’s hard to say. There was always criticism of my game there.
“At the beginning I also started like I did here, from the left side.
“I think a lot of people wanted to see me scoring more goals, but at Spurs, with the tactics we have and the way the manager wants me to play, I can bring a lot to the group, also with my assists and maybe (by) not being the main man who scores the goals.
“To make deep runs to create space for the others and like today, to create an assist.”
Werner’s work on the left allowed Rodrigo Bentancur to make it 2-2 at Old Trafford, where Spurs twice came from behind and should perhaps have left with more than a point.
It was a promising debut from a player that scored 23 goals in 89 appearances for Chelsea and helped win the Champions League in 2021.
“Maybe sometimes it’s not about the fans or the manager,” Werner said when asked if criticism of his time at Stamford Bridge was unfair.
“Sometimes it’s about you, how you are getting things together, how you look at your stats and think, ‘I wanted to score more goals’.
View this post on Instagram
“I think now I’m a bit older, I see how important assists and deep runs are for the team.
“I also want to score goals but it’s not the main part of my game anymore. I can bring so much more especially in this kind of tactic for the group.”
Richarlison and Bentancur were the goalscorers for Postecoglou’s side on Sunday, cancelling out goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford.
Hojlund’s thumping opener got United off to a dream start inside three minutes, but Erik ten Hag’s side lost their way in what will be their only Premier League match this month.
“We were talking in the break about switching off, so it was a little bit annoying (to concede so quickly),” Hojlund said, referring to Bentancur’s strike within a minute of the second half getting under way.
“We need to take the positives with us, again we need to be disappointed, as two times we were ahead.
“It can happen but again I think we played a great game.”
What the papers say
Liverpool are reportedly ready to sell their 24-year-old goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for £20million, the Mirror reports, with the club now looking towards Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson as their replacement. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has played 27 games for the Black Cats this season.
The Daily Echo says that Bournemouth’s 29-year-old midfielder Joe Rothwell will have a medical at Southampton before he completes a loan move to the club.
Bournemouth face a battle to keep their 26-year-old Wales defender Chris Mepham, the Sun reports, with Premier League strugglers Sheffield United interested.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Leny Yoro: Lille’s 18-year-old defender is the subject of interest from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain, according to AS.
Serhou Guirassy: West Ham will be joined by Manchester United, Newcastle and AC Milan in pursuing the 27-year-old Stuttgart striker, Football Insider says.
Garry Rodrigues scored a stoppage-time winner as Cape Verde beat Chris Hughton’s four-time winners Ghana 2-1 to go top of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Rodrigues took advantage of a mix-up in the Ghana defence to tap the ball into an empty net and give his side a deserved victory in Abidjan.
Jamiro Monteiro had put the islanders ahead in the 17th minute and Ghana had a goal ruled out by the VAR before Alexander Djiku got them back on level terms with a stooping header, 10 minutes into the second half.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori made two vital saves before substitute Rodrigues pounced at the death to secure all three points.
It was another disappointing result for the Black Stars, who last won the title in 1982 and failed to get out of the group stages in 2021.
Hughton’s side were without West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus due to injury but it was defensive lapses which proved costly and Monteiro was left with a simple tap-in to open the scoring after Ofori palmed a shot from Jovane Cabral straight into his path.
Ghana thought they had equalised in the 36th minute when Majeed Ashimeru rifled a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo eventually decided that Ransford Konigsdorffer, who had unwittingly hit the post moments earlier when the ball was palmed onto his head by Vozinha, was blocking the view of the goalkeeper inside the area.
Djiku did equalise in the 56th minute as he headed home Jordan Ayew’s corner and the defender also produced a vital block at the other end from Bebe’s scuffed shot.
But just as the game looked set to fizzle out, Gilson Benchimol took advantage of a blunder from Mohammed Salisu to nip in front of Ofori and set up Rodrigues for the easiest of winners.
Garry Rodrigues scored a stoppage-time winner as Cape Verde beat Chris Hughton’s four-time winners Ghana 2-1 to go top of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Rodrigues took advantage of a mix-up in the Ghana defence to tap the ball into an empty net and give his side a deserved victory in Abidjan.
Jamiro Monteiro had put the islanders ahead in the 17th minute and Ghana had a goal ruled out by the VAR before Alexander Djiku got them back on level terms with a stooping header, 10 minutes into the second half.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori made two vital saves before substitute Rodrigues pounced at the death to secure all three points.
It was another disappointing result for the Black Stars, who last won the title in 1982 and failed to get out of the group stages in 2021.
Hughton’s side were without West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus due to injury but it was defensive lapses which proved costly and Monteiro was left with a simple tap-in to open the scoring after Ofori palmed a shot from Jovane Cabral straight into his path.
Ghana thought they had equalised in the 36th minute when Majeed Ashimeru rifled a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo eventually decided that Ransford Konigsdorffer, who had unwittingly hit the post moments earlier when the ball was palmed onto his head by Vozinha, was blocking the view of the goalkeeper inside the area.
Djiku did equalise in the 56th minute as he headed home Jordan Ayew’s corner and the defender also produced a vital block at the other end from Bebe’s scuffed shot.
But just as the game looked set to fizzle out, Gilson Benchimol took advantage of a blunder from Mohammed Salisu to nip in front of Ofori and set up Rodrigues for the easiest of winners.
Kylian Mbappe helped Paris St Germain move eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1 following a 2-0 win at 10-man Lens.
Closest challengers Nice’s defeat at Rennes 24 hours earlier presented PSG with an opportunity to extend their advantage at the summit and the defending champions fully capitalised in northern France.
Mbappe teed up Bradley Barcola to open the scoring from an acute angle after half an hour before the provider turned goalscorer in the 89th minute with a low finish beyond Brice Samba following a PSG counter-attack.
Lens were left to rue Przemyslaw Frankowski having his early penalty saved while their efforts to get back into the contests were hampered when Jonathan Gradit was sent off just before half-time.
Ultimately, Mbappe’s 19th league goal of the season in just his 17th appearance wrapped up the points for PSG, who are unbeaten in all competitions since November 7.
PSG took amateurs Revel to task in the French Cup last weekend in a 9-0 rout but had not won at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis since 2014, losing twice during their last three visits and drawing the other.
They could have fallen behind after seven minutes as Danilo Pereira hauled down Elye Wahi in the box but Frankowski slammed his spot-kick straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved with his legs.
Donnarumma barely had to move as Frankowski went down the middle and PSG were given a major reprieve.
Donnarumma then saved well from Wahi’s effort before home defender Kevin Danso spurned a glorious chance when he directed a free header from a corner over the bar.
Lens’ failure to take their opportunities came back to haunt them as PSG broke the deadlock, with Mbappe putting through Barcola, who lofted over Samba from a narrow angle.
Matters worsened in first-half stoppage time for Lens as Barcola slalomed his way through the defence before being tripped up on the edge of the area by last man Gradit.
As Gradit had denied Barcola a goalscoring opportunity, an initial yellow card was upgraded to red and Lens would have to play the second half with a man down.
To their credit, the hosts refused to roll over and Neil El Aynaoui forced Donnarumma into action while the midfielder was then unable to get the ball under control when well-positioned to equalise.
Vitinha missed the target at the other end while Fabian Ruiz took one touch too many when he could have shot before attempting to feed through Mbappe and being impeded by Lens defenders.
Mbappe fizzed wide but started and finished a PSG break after Lens had left themselves short at the back in their efforts for a leveller.
PSG were presented with a three-on-three when Mbappe spread the ball to Ousmane Dembele on the right wing. Mbappe then exploited a yawning gap to collect a return ball and slot across Samba.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
