Champions Paris Saint-Germain won their final game of the season 2-0 at Metz, who will play in the relegation play-offs for the chance to remain in Ligue 1.
This match was effectively over as a contest after 12 minutes when, five minutes after Carlos Soler’s inswinging cross crept inside Alexandre Oukidja’s far post, Lee Kang-in slotted home Marco Asensio’s low cross.
Initially the Korean forward was adjudged offside but VAR ruled he was slightly behind the last defender.
The result here looked in jeopardy, though the scoreline was threatened when Nordi Mukiele hit the bar in the first half and Metz’s Lamine Camara did the same from a miss-hit cross at the other end.
Metz began the 90 minutes in the play-off berth – which plays off with the third, fourth and fifth sides in Ligue 2 for the final Ligue 1 spot – but Lorient’s 5-0 victory over bottom-club Clermont Foot put them perilously close to leapfrogging the Stade Saint-Symphorien outfit.
For most of the night, Metz were happy with the score staying the same until news of Lorient’s fifth goal, which brought their scores level on goal difference.
This put into play a series of tie breakers, the fifth of which was goals scored in matches between the sides – and Metz won 3-2 at Lorient, while Lorient won 2-1 at Metz.
Talking Point – A memorable last day of the campaign
The prospect of Metz going down automatically did not seem too worrying a prospect at the start of play.
With no Kylian Mbappe, no Warren Zaïre Emery, no Ousmane Dembele the likelihood of a seven-goal difference between them and Lorient being breached seemed marginal at best.
But we perhaps over estimated the motivation of already-relegated bottom-club Clermont Foot, who travelled to Lorient and were 4-0 down just after the hour mark.
This led to the strange sight of a goalkeeper with his side 2-0 down, in this instance Metz’s Alexandre Oukidja, doing all he could to legally time waste, keeping the ball at his feet until the already sated PSG forwards closed him down.
Lorient’s 91st minute goal levelled the teams on points and goal difference. The next tie breaker is head-to-head record, then goal difference in head-to-head record and then away goals in head-to-head match ups – the latter giving Metz the advantage.
Player of the Match – Marco Asensio (PSG)
Given the freedom of the left flank, which after the Coupe de France becomes vacant, he was the most impactful playmaker on the pitch. He is far from the most exciting signings for PSG, and this his first season was hindered by a foot injury, but he may be a driving force in Luis Enrique’s side. Always good but never quite good enough to start for Real Madrid, he seems the sort of player who will revel in being an important member of this side.
Player Ratings
Metz: Oukidja 7; Colin 6, San 7, Herelle 6, Udol 7; Jean Jacques 6, N’Doram 6, Camara 6; Van den Kerkhof 6, Mikautadze 7, Diallo 6.
PSG: Keylor Navas 7; Mukiele 7, Danilo 6, Beraldo 6, Nuno Mendes 7; Carlos Soler 7, Ugarte 6, Mayulu 6; Asensio 8*, Gonçalo Ramos 6, Lee Kang-in 6.
Subs: Mbappe 6, Muani 6, Zague 6, Skriniar 6.
Match Highlights
7′ GOAL! METZ 0-1 PSG (SOLER)! A corner is played short to Soler and he aims to hit a cross towards the far post but it curls inside the top corner.
12′ LEE HAS BALL IN NET! He slides home Asensio’s cross from eight yards out but it is ruled out for offside. They are checking with VAR. It looks marginal.
13′ GOAL! METZ 0-2 PSG (LEE)! The referee signals it is a goal. It came from lovely interplay between Ramos and Mayulu set free Asensio on the left and his measured cross was guided home by the Korean forward.
35′ MUKIELE HITS THE WOODWORK! He sidefooted into the ground and it bounced up slowly and Sane could only get a slight touch to it on the line as it came back off the bar.
61′ NAVAS COMES OUT TO MAKE A GOOD SAVE! He denies Mikautadze who turned Danilo superbly and looked to guide his shot home but the stopper rushed out of his goal to deny him.
76′ ALMOST A FREAK GOAL! Surely Lamine Camara was attempting a cross from the right wing for Metz but it beats Navas and comes back off the bar.
Key Stat
0 – The number of away games PSG lost this season. A record.
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