Paris Saint Germain secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Metz, with early goals setting the tone for a comfortable evening at Parc des Princes.
Paris Saint Germain, second in Ligue 1, faced relegation-threatened Metz, languishing in 18th. The hosts sought to maintain their title charge, while Metz desperately needed points to survive. Metz entered the match on a poor run of form.
The home side wasted no time. Just three minutes in, Désiré Doué opened the scoring. Warren Zaïre-Emery provided a precise assist, allowing Doué to slot home.
Metz struggled to contain PSG's attacking play. Their frustration showed when J. Gbamin received a yellow card in the 31st minute for a tripping foul.
As half-time approached, Boubacar Traoré also saw yellow for a similar challenge on 45 minutes. Then, in added time, Bradley Barcola doubled PSG's lead. Gonçalo Ramos assisted Barcola, who finished calmly.
PSG entered the break with a commanding lead, having asserted their control early. Metz faced an uphill battle to find a way back into the match. They needed a significant tactical shift.
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions from both sides. Doué, having scored, made way for I. Mbaye at the restart. PSG aimed to maintain their intensity.
Further changes saw D. Fernandez and Lee Kang-In introduced for PSG around the hour mark. Barcola, another scorer, also exited soon after. These changes kept fresh legs on the field.
Metz also made several substitutions to try and spark some life into their attack. However, they found no clear route to goal. Paris Saint Germain's defence remained resolute.
Gonçalo Ramos then sealed the victory in the 77th minute. Lucas Hernández delivered a well-placed pass, and Ramos fired it past the Metz goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer. This made it 3-0 to the hosts.
The statistics underscored PSG's dominance. They commanded 67% possession and registered 15 total shots, with six on target. Metz managed only three shots, none on target, reflecting their low expected goals (xG) of 0.08 compared to PSG's 2.06.
This comprehensive win solidifies Paris Saint Germain's position near the top of Ligue 1. For Metz, the defeat adds further pressure in their fight against relegation. Their form continues to be a major concern.
