Paris (France) (AFP) – No rain of goals but a quiet success for Paris SG, who consolidated their first place in Ligue 1 at home against Troyes (1-0) on Saturday evening during the 10th day.
Published on: 07/11/2026 - 23:16
With 23 points, the capital club secures the lead in the championship before the last international break of the year and concludes an excellent streak of eight consecutive victories since the previous window, in October.
During this period, the double European champion club was particularly brilliant in the Champions League, beating Manchester City (4-2), FC Barcelona (4-2) and, Tuesday, Villarreal (6-0) on its lawn.
After such a show of force, the Parc des Princes undoubtedly expected a new festival against Troyes (16th, 8 pts), but not Luis Enrique, who predicted the "most difficult match of the week" for his players on the eve of the match.
And its content proved him right. Firstly because Estac put in a consistent performance both in defense, with players showing intensity and a very good goalkeeper, Hillel Konaté, and in attack, where it put the Parisian club in difficulty, often on the counter-attack.
Then because the Parisians were narrow in their final moves to hope to deceive Konaté, in particular Ferran Torres, who came up against the Burkinabè international goalkeeper four times (38th, 45th, 45th+2, 67th).
The Spanish striker, who is experiencing a less prosperous period after an idyllic debut, was unable to take advantage of his tenure to revive himself statistically.
Zabarnyi, quite a paradox
Before him, Senny Mayulu, holder during the last two meetings, had obtained the first two chances (3rd, 5th).
No Parisian striker really shone in this meeting: neither Désiré Doué, author of any performance, a bit like at Villarreal, nor Mika Godts, starter but not sufficiently dangerous.
On the contrary, it was a defender who scored the only goal of the match: Illia Zabarnyi, with a header, served by Senny Mayulu after a corner played with two players (39th). The Ukrainian, already threatening in the air a few minutes earlier (27th), had a paradoxical first period by being better in attack than in defense, where he offered a great opportunity ultimately not taken by the Trojans by slipping (28th), and received a yellow card for a big foul (34th).
After a first period largely dominated by Paris in terms of play - 79% possession, 481 passes to 128, 10 shots to 3 - Luis Enrique's players slowed down in the second, only creating a few scoring opportunities (59th, 66th).
The spectacle was rather in the stands, where the Auteuil corner burst into flames in the 50th minute of play, when the Collectif ultras parisiens (CUP) lit lots of smoke and fireworks to celebrate its 35th anniversary, which will perhaps earn it a sanction from the Professional Football League (LFP).
But that will not prevent Paris Saint-Germain from continuing its momentum in the league, which it now largely dominates, after a sluggish start, and in the Champions League, where it is aiming for the treble at the end of the season.
rbo/dar
© 2026 AFP
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