PSG vs Lyon score, result as Messi and Mbappe struggle in Ligue 1 leaders' latest home defeat

Kyle Bonn

PSG vs Lyon score, result as Messi and Mbappe struggle in Ligue 1 leaders' latest home defeat image

Never was the disparity between the performances of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe for club and country more on display than in PSG’s 1-0 defeat to Lyon on Sunday.

With PSG out of the Champions League and now only able to focus on domestic league action, they were lacklustre again in a second successive home defeat.

Argentina captain Messi and France skipper Mbappe were kept well in check as the two vaunted strikers contributed a single shot on target between them for an injury-hit PSG who never truly threatened at Parc des Princes.

Lyon were happy to absorb pressure and counter with venom, and they were deserving of the three points. Alexandre Lacazette missed a penalty in the first half but Barcola’s 55th-minute strike was sufficient, the substitute finishing from close range when Sael Kumbedi found him with a volleyed delivery across goal from inside the penalty area.

The defeat leaves PSG with a six-point lead atop the Ligue 1 table, while Lyon are now within eight of the European qualification places.

Former PSG manager Laurent Blanc has guided OL to only one defeat in their last 13 games in all competitions, with this memorable result ending a run of three consecutive draws in which they had never been ahead.

Lyon will next have the chance to pursue their promising league form when they face Rennes, the side who won 2-0 at PSG in March.

PSG visit eighth-placed Nice on April 8, when the side immediately behind the reigning champions, Lens, will hope they falter again as their nearest challengers bid to chase down a six-point gap with nine matches remaining.

The Sporting News followed the PSG vs. Lyon match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

MORE: Updated Ligue 1 top scorers table as Kylian Mbappe goes for another Golden Boot

PSG vs Lyon final score

  1H 2H Final
PSG 0 0 0
Lyon 0 1 1

Goals:
55th min — OL — Bradley Barcola

38th min — Alexandre Lacazette missed penalty

Confirmed lineups:

PSG (3-5-2, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Bitshiabu (Ekitike, 60'), Danilo, Marquinhos — Hakimi, Vitinha (Gharbi, 84'), Verratti (Ruiz, 60'), R. Sanches, Mendes — Messi, Mbappe.

Lyon (3-5-2, right to left): Lopes (GK) — Lovren, Diomande, Lukeba, — Kumbedi (Caqueret, 63'), Lepenant (Tolisso, 63'), Thiago Mendes, Cherki (Aouar, 69'), Tagliafico — Lacazette (Dembele, 69'), Sarr (Barcola, 24').

PSG vs Lyon live updates, highlights, commentary

FULLTIME: PSG 0-1 Lyon

There's the final whistle, and PSG fall to their second straight home defeat. In truth, it's a deserved loss for the hosts, who never truly displayed a cutting edge.

Lyon weren't exceptional but they absorbed pressure well with good organisation and one-on-one defending, and managed to counter-attack very well at various times.

PSG vs Lyon: Second Half

90+1 min: With four minutes of added time shown, there's very little indication that PSG can get through this Lyon defence. Bradley Barcola absorbs a yellow card for a foul in midfield. Corentin Tolisso picks up a booking moments later.

88th min: There's a very contentious decision as Nuno Mendes does well to keep a vertical ball in play right in the corner flag, and then goes down to earn a foul. It looked as if the ball had indeed gone out of play and the foul was soft. In the end, the delivery by Nuno Mendes on the free-kick was horrid, way too short and cleared by the first man. Odd that Lionel Messi didn't take that.

81st min: Chance, PSG! Achraf Hakimi is sprung through by Lionel Messi, and he cuts inside to take himself. His shot is powerful and goes very close, but flashes just wide. Anthony Lopes let that one go without giving it a save, which was very risky as it didn't end up too far wide at all.

74th min: Another change for PSG as Warren Zaire-Emery comes on for Renato Sanches. Danilo takes an elbow to the throat from Moussa Dembele but the Lyon man is not punished.

70th min: Chance, Lyon! With his very first touch since coming on, Moussa Dembele forces another big save by Gianluigi Donnarumma! It was a very similar chance and save as the one moments before, except from a little closer to goal. The Italian is keeping PSG in the match!

67th min: Chance, Lyon! PSG are hit on the counter, and Bradley Barcola forces a big save out of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who dives down to his left! It all came after Lionel Messi was dispossessed by a wonderful tackle atop the penalty area. Lyon are defending admirably in the final third, and look incredibly comfortable keeping PSG at arm's length. The visitors look extremely dangerous on the counter.

Alexandre Lacazette comes off, replaced by Moussa Dembele, while Rayan Cherki is replaced by Houssem Aouar.

62nd min: Now a pair of changes for Lyon as Corentin Tolisso comes on to replace Johann Lepenant, and Maxence Caqueret replaces Sael Kumbedi.

59th min: Chance, PSG! Dangerous free-kick here as Johann Lepenant is whistled for a hard foul through the back of Renato Sanches, and PSG have a big set-piece chance. It's a bit far for Lionel Messi to go for goal, but he delivers a delicious ball right to El Chadaille Bitshiabu in front of goal. He comes up empty on the header, but on the recycle Messi then picks out the head of Marquinhos who puts it over the bar!

PSG makes two changes as Fabian Ruiz and Hugo Ekitike come on, with Marco Verratti and Bitshiabu withdrawn. That's an attacking change, but it's surprising that midfield maestro Verratti is taken off. The Italian heads straight down the tunnel, suggesting it could be an injury issue, which would be troubling for PSG.

56th min: GOAL! LYON! Bradley Barcola gets the opener for Lyon! An excellent looped ball from one side of the six-yard box to the other by Sael Kumbedi feeds Barcola unmarked and he delivers an excellent finish across the face of goal to put Lyon ahead.

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51st min: Bradley Barcola runs a blistering counter, but Achraf Hakimi snatches the ball off his feet before he can get into the PSG penalty area. Barcola had a teammate in acres of space atop the 18-yard box, but failed to feed and instead tried to do it himself, a very selfish take when he had better options.

50th min: PSG have controlled the possession in the first five minutes of this half, but can't break into a dangerous position despite a number of attempts to do so. A Nuno Mendes cross is the best try, but its blocked and deflected out atop the penalty area.

Kickoff: The second half is under way, with neither side making any personnel changes. Lyon probably will consider themselves the better side in the first half, but if they let Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe continue to cook through the next 45 minutes, they will end up rueing their mistakes.

How will PSG respond? They'll need better defending too, although it's a tough spot for 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu who is a bit in over his head thanks to PSG's injury crisis.

HALFTIME: PSG 0-0 Lyon

It's a true miracle that this match is scoreless. Both sides had good opportunities, and each will rue one particular situation.

Alexandre Lacazette's missed penalty looms very large, while PSG will be upset that a penalty was not given in their favour right at the end of the half. Anthony Lopes made a big save moments before that as well, and Lyon had a few good chances in front of net midway through the half.

Lionel Messi has been PSG's best attacker despite fans whistling him pre-match, while Kylian Mbappe has been relatively invisible.

PSG vs Lyon: First Half

45+2 min: Chance, PSG! Nuno Mendes pulls down a ball from Lionel Messi, and when he sends a cross to the front of net, it clearly hits the arm of Lyon defender Dejan Lovren. The referee does not call the penalty, and VAR does not intervene. It's a surprising call, as while there's nothing Lovren can do, his arm was outstretched and did indeed block the cross.

45th min: Chance, PSG! What a save from Anthony Lopes! Renato Sanches lets fly at the end of a chance created by Kylian Mbappe, but his Portuguese international teammate dives to the left full-stretch to make the stop!

41st min: HANDBAGS! Renato Sanches goes at it with Sael Kumbedi on the touchline after battling for the ball. They go face-to-face and begin to push and shove, requiring both squads to step in. Each one picks up a yellow card.

36th min: PENALTY LYON! What is Gianluigi Donnarumma doing?!?!?!?! Bradley Barcola is clean through on goal after a sensational vertical ball unlocks the PSG defence, but he completely slips before shooting and the chance seemed to have gone. Yet for some reason, Donnarumma can't hold onto the ball and trips Alexandre Lacazette! There was no reason for that! Laczaette steps up to take...

LACAZETTE MISSES! He stutters, and hits the left post, despite sending Donnarumma the wrong way! From Barcola's slip, Donnarumma's penalty, and Lacazette's miss, it's a total comedy of errors!

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33rd min: The match has devolved into a midfield foul fest. There's been very little attacking third action since Messi's failed counter-attack.

26th min: Lionel Messi runs a blistering counter-attack down the right, but by the time he enters the penalty area he's swarmed by multiple Lyon defenders and has little help from his teammates, so he's dispossessed trying to dance around white shirts.

22nd min: Lyon have an issue as striker Amin Sarr's night is done with what looks to be a hamstring issue after stretching to challenge a bouncing ball with El Chadaille Bitshiabu. He's brought off and cuts a frustrated figure, as does Laurent Blanc, who is forced into a change with Bradley Barcola entering.

20th min: Lyon defender Sael Kumbedi makes a dangerous tackle on Kylian Mbappe that leaves the France star in a heap. No call was made, which is incredible considering it looked to be a booking-worthy tackle. Christophe Galtier completely baffled on the touchline.

16th min: Chance, Lyon! Thiago Mendes makes a fabulous trailing run and gets a layoff from Alexandre Lacazette, but he drags the shot wide! That was an enormous opportunity, as he was absolutely wide open in front of goal!

There's a slight delay as the referee gets his goal-line technology watch reconfigured. Christophe Galtier gives him a hand!

13th min: Young PSG defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu gets the first yellow card of the game for yanking back Alexandre Lacazette who was in on goal from a wide position.

10th min: Chance, PSG! Kylian Mbappe plays a one-two with Lionel Messi and gets it back from a tight angle, trying to chip Anthony Lopes! This effort came from the opposite end of the Lyon penalty area as Vitinha's, but the result is similar, as Mbappe just directs it wide.

6th min: There's a significant smoke cloud enveloping the field as the PSG ultras continue to burn flares and other pyrotechnics. It's made the field tough to see from above, and probably is affecting the visibility on the field as well.

4th min: Chance, PSG! Vitinha tries to chip Anthony Lopes but can't quite get the contact and he sends it over. It's a good chance! PSG have started very strong, controlling the early intent.

Kickoff: After a short delay due to Lyon's team bus being held up, we're under way at Parc des Princes! Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe look to carry this PSG side to the Ligue 1 title, despite a number of injuries around them amongst the PSG squad.

Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

NOTE: Kickoff to this match has been delayed by 10 minutes.

5 mins to kick: One of the PSG ultra subgroups, the K-Soce Team, is celebrating its 15-year anniversary, but they better be careful with those flares!

17 mins to kick: Lionel Messi is announced as part of the PSG starting lineup, and he's whistled by the PSG fans who have taken to attacking the Argentine of late. While Messi has been hailed as a hero, or even a demigod, in Argentina after winning the World Cup, he's been less warmly received in Paris, labeled a scapegoat by some for PSG's failures this season.

MORE: Why are PSG fans booing and whistling Lionel Messi?

35 mins to kick: Word has come down that kickoff for the match is delayed by 10 minutes at Parc des Princes. Apparently the Lyon team bus got stuck in traffic heading to the match.

47 mins to kick: About 13 minutes late, the PSG lineup is finally in. The injury crisis is so bad for the Parisians that 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu is starting at centre-back, as Sergio Ramos is injured. Renato Sanches also starts in midfield, a rare appearance for him.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both start despite playing significant minutes during the international break.

60 mins to kick: The Lyon lineup is in. The visitors to Parc des Princes have chosen to deploy a three-centre-back system today, with Sinaly Diomande brought in to partner with Dejan Lovren and Castello Lukeba. Corentin Tolisso is benched in midfield, which is surprising as the former Bayern Munich man has been a fixture in the Lyon lineup this season.

80 mins to kick: There is the possibility that Lionel Messi is rested after a taxing international break for Argentina, but it seems likely that he'll start for PSG in this big league match. The Ligue 1 title is all that's left on the table for PSG this season, so they'll go all-out to secure that silverware.

105 mins to kick: PSG ultras are marching to the stadium amidst reports that the group is having an internal fracture of late.

120 mins to kick: While it seemed after the World Cup that Lionel Messi's contract extension with PSG was a foregone conclusion, there has been nothing official since, and as time rolls along with no word, speculation and murmurings begin to seep in.

Now, there are reports in France that Messi has been contacted by Barcelona about a return, and he's still undecided on his future. Then, Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste seemed to play that up in a press conference. It seems insane that Barcelona, who were unable to even register an extension for young midfielder Gavi this past winter due to financial restrictions, could have any wiggle room to bring Messi back to the Camp Nou, but the longer this plays out, the more this talk will continue.

PSG vs Lyon lineups, team news

Sergio Ramos was a doubt as L'Equipe reported this week that he sat out some portions of training, and sure enough he misses out. That means 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu is forced to start at centre-back, while Renato Sanches makes a rare appearance in midfield.

In better news for PSG, Carlos Soler and Marquinhos look poised to return after missing the Rennes match before the break. PSG are without Neymar, who is out for the season after requiring surgery on his ankle, while Presnel Kimpembe is in the same boat due to an Achilles tendon issue. 

It was possible that Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe could have been rested following their return from the international break, but they both start.

PSG confirmed starting lineup (3-5-2): Donnarumma (GK) — Bitshiabu, Danilo, Marquinhos — Hakimi, Vitinha, Verratti, R. Sanches, Mendes — Messi, Mbappe.

PSG subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

Former Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette has starred in front of goal for Lyon this season with 17 goals and is only two strikes shy of Ligue 1's current top scorers: Mbappe and Lille's Jonathan David.

Lyon have chosen to deploy a three-centre-back system today, with Sinaly Diomande brought in to partner with Dejan Lovren and Castello Lukeba. Midfielder Corentin Tolisso is benched in midfield in favour of Rayan Cherki.

The visitors are without Chelsea loanee Malo Gusto, while Jerome Boateng is also misses out.

Lyon confirmed starting lineup (3-5-2): Lopes (GK) — Lovren, Diomande, Lukeba, — Kumbedi, Lepenant, Thiago Mendes, Cherki, Tagliafico — Lacazette, Sarr.

Lyon subs (9): Riou (GK), Boateng, Henrique, Aouar, Caqueret, Tolisso, Barcola, Dembele, Jeffinho.

MORE: Why are PSG fans booing Messi?

How to watch PSG vs Lyon

The match from the Parc des Princes kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time in Paris.

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
Australia Mon, April 3 04:45 AEST beIN Sports 2 beIN Sports Connect,
Kayo Sports
Canada Sun, April 2 14:45 EDT beIN Sports Fubo,
beIN Sports Connect
Hong Kong Mon, April 3 02:45 HKT beIN Sports 2 beIN Sports Connect,
M Plus Live, Now Player
India Mon, April 3 00:15 IST Sports 18 Sports18
Malaysia Mon, April 3 02:45 MYT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand Mon, April 3 04:45 NZST Sky Sports 7 beIN beIN Sports Connect
Singapore Mon, April 3 02:45 SGT beIN Sports Xtra beIN Sports Connect
UK Sun, April 2 19:45 BST BT Sport 3 BT Sport site/app
USA Sun, April 2 14:45 EDT beIN Sports,
beIN Sports Espanol
Fubo,
beIN Sports Connect

PSG vs Lyon betting odds

Lyon haven't beaten PSG since 2019, a run of 11 matches winless across all competitions. Furthermore, Lyon are in poor form, having drawn three matches in a row in league play and suffered a recent defeat to Auxerre.

PSG haven't exactly blown the doors off Ligue 1 sides this season, but it's tough to even consider Lyon in that category given they sit 10th in the table and have sputtered all year. Thus, the hosts are big favourites at home, and the goals are expected to flow given not just PSG's attacking talent, but the presence of in-form Alexandre Lacazette on the other side.

  PSG
win
Draw Lyon
win
Both teams
to score Y / N
Over / Under
3.5 goals
PSG
-1.5
LYO
+1.5
BetMGM
(USA)
-250 +400 +600 -140 / +100 +120 / -175 +100 -145
Sports
Interaction

(Canada)
-262 +392 +536 -156 / -101 +121 / -167 +106 -141
SkyBet
(UK)
2/5 4/1 11/2 4/6, 11/10 6/5, 8/13
Neds
(Australia)
1.40 4.60 7.25 1.67 / 2.05 1.50 / 2.45
Dafabet
(India)
1.45 5.20 6.80 1.73 / 2.12 2.11 1.80

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.