On Saturday, February 25th, 2023, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) extended their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with a convincing 3-1 victory over Saint-Étienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Ousmane Dembélé's brace and Lionel Messi's penalty ensured that PSG maintained their unbeaten run in the league.
The match started with PSG dominating possession and creating several chances. They were rewarded in the 10th minute when Dembélé found the back of the net with a composed finish. Saint-Étienne responded well and equalized through Romain Hamouma 10 minutes later, but Dembélé restored PSG's lead just before half-time, capitalizing on a defensive error.
In the second half, PSG continued to press for more goals and were awarded a penalty when Neymar was fouled in the box. Messi stepped up and converted the spot-kick to make it 3-1. Despite Saint-Étienne's efforts to get back into the game, PSG held firm to claim all three points.
Dembélé was the star of the show for PSG, scoring two vital goals. His first was a clinical finish after he was played through on goal by Messi, while his second came after he pounced on a loose ball in the Saint-Étienne defense. The French winger has now scored six goals in his last seven Ligue 1 appearances.
In goal for PSG, Gianluigi Donnarumma made several impressive saves to keep Saint-Étienne at bay. The Italian international denied Hamouma a certain equalizer in the first half and made a crucial save from Lucas Gourna-Douath in the second half. His performance ensured that PSG extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1.
PSG's victory underlined their dominance in Ligue 1. They have now won 19 of their 24 league games this season and are 15 points clear of second-placed Marseille. The Parisians have also scored the most goals (61) and conceded the fewest (17) in the league.
However, PSG's performance was not without its flaws. They struggled to control the game at times, and Saint-Étienne had several chances to equalize in the second half. Despite their comfortable lead, PSG will need to improve their overall performance if they are to challenge for the UEFA Champions League title this season.
PSG's victory over Saint-Étienne was a significant step towards retaining their Ligue 1 title. Dembélé's brace and Messi's penalty ensured that they maintained their unbeaten run in the league and extended their lead at the top of the standings. While PSG's performance was not flawless, they showed their quality when it mattered most. As the season enters its final stages, PSG will need to continue performing at a high level if they are to achieve their ambitions in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
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