Messi turned into floored with the aid of a sturdy address and a few PSG players stopped playing in the build-up to Seko Fofana's intention which gave Lens a 62nd-minute lead in northern France. It looked as if that would be sufficient for Lens to assert a victory which might were just reward for an great overall performance that thrilled the group of close to 37,000.
However, PSG equalised within the second minute of injury time as Kylian Mbappe crossed for fellow replacement Wijnaldum to head domestic. It is a 2nd attract as many suits for the Qatar-owned membership, who increase their lead at the pinnacle of Ligue 1 to 13 points from Marseille, crushed 2-1 at domestic by way of Brest earlier on Saturday.
Despite their big lead at the pinnacle, it become yet some other unsatisfactory overall performance from Mauricio Pochettino's disjointed crew of superstars, who have commonly had enough man or woman expertise to get consequences this season however have rarely satisfied. "Lens is a superb group and really physical. They made us go through. Overall I assume we knew a way to go through in unique periods of the game and I think the draw is a honest result," Pochettino informed broadcaster Canal Plus. "It wasn't our first-rate night time but the attempt was there and while the attempt is there you have to congratulate the players, however we recognise very well we want to do higher."
It was a PSG facet missing Neymar, who is out with an ankle damage and now not anticipated to go back earlier than mid-January, while their 9-intention pinnacle scorer Mbappe become rested at kick-off before coming directly to assist save the day. Messi nonetheless has simply one aim from 9 Ligue 1 appearances and he struggled to make his presence felt in opposition to an outstanding Lens aspect who lie 5th inside the table. The Argentinian received his seventh Ballon d'Or at the begin of the week however made little effect in Wednesday's 0-zero draw with Nice and changed into little better right here, even though he hit the post with a shot from out of doors the field early on.
Angel Di Maria was also denied via an top notch Jean-Louis Leca store in stoppage time at the give up of a first 1/2 wherein Lens have been the extra incredible facet, and the hosts went beforehand simply after the hour. Facundo Medina received again ownership with a crunching, however truthful, task on Messi, who stayed down. As Marco Verratti stopped and known as for the ball to be positioned out, Lens continued and previous Manchester City midfielder Fofana permit fly from outdoor the location with a effective shot that was fumbled into the internet by way of Keylor Navas.
David Pereira Da Costa then hit the post for Lens earlier than Mbappe came on and nearly at once had a header from Messi's flighted ball saved by way of Leca, who became finally overwhelmed on the death by using Wijnaldum.
