Lens vs. PSG: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction from Ligue 1 Game

Edinson Cavani scored a goal and was sent off as Paris Saint-Germain moved up to second place with a 3-1 victory at Lens in a wild Ligue 1 match on Friday evening.

Cavani, who had gone nearly a month without scoring, netted PSG's third of the match, a 55th-minute penalty, moments before drawing two quick bookings and a subsequent dismissal. The Uruguayan's red card was only one of three on the night, with Lens' Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Jerome Le Moigne also sent off during an unusual second half.

The dismissals threatened to overshadow PSG's fight-back from a goal down after Lens had taken an early lead on the counter through Adamo Coulibaly. Yohan Cabaye equalised for the visitors midway through the first half before Maxwell scored a spectacular go-ahead goal.

For PSG manager Laurent Blanc, the victory will come as some relief as he tries to navigate a mounting injury crisis. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Luiz, Marquinhos, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Thiago Silva all missed out through injury, and yet the visitors were able to record their second away win of the season.

More work remains to be done, of course, with PSG claiming just their fourth win in 10 Ligue 1 matches this season. But with Friday's three points, Blanc's side now lies just four behind leaders Marseille.

Up next for PSG is a midweek trip to APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League before a home game against Bordeaux in Ligue 1 next Saturday. Lens play at Toulouse next Friday.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Despite the poor pitch at the Stade de France, PSG started brightly and created multiple chances for Cavani to score the opener. Cavani, however, continued his recent struggles in front of goal, repeatedly proving wasteful.

In the fourth minute, Lucas Moura freed Cavani with an angled pass on the right side of Lens' box. Cavani shot into the side netting.

Six minutes later, Maxwell set up Cavani for an even better chance at close range, but Cavani shot too close to Lens goalkeeper Rudy Riou, who kick-saved. Moments later, Lens took the lead.

The chance started with Riou's save as Lens poured forward on the counter. Coulibaly took possession outside the box and powered toward goal before sending a deflected shot past Salvatore Sirigu for a shock 1-0 lead.

Trailing by a goal, Cavani's misses were starting to take on more meaning. Yet he spurned another chance in the 19th minute, shipping straight into Riou's arms after running onto a long ball over the top from Marco Verratti.

PSG received more bad news in the 21st minute as Blaise Matuidi left the match with an injury. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck replaced him in the midfield.

Yet another chance fell to Cavani in the 25th minute as the Uruguayan ran onto a long ball and held off a defender before shooting past the onrushing Riou. This time, though, Gbamin cleared from the penalty spot to keep PSG off the scoresheet.

The visitors' frustrations lasted only a few more minutes. In the 28th minute, Cabaye pulled PSG level.

Javier Pastore started the sequence by chasing down a loose ball on the left, keeping the ball from crossing the touchline. Maxwell then rolled a pass toward the edge of the box, from where Cabaye bounced a low shot into the far corner.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Suddenly level after missing so many early chances, PSG quickly took the lead. This time, Maxwell turned from provider to goalscorer, chipping delicately past Riou after the Lens goalkeeper had come off his line to clear his area.

With that, PSG had overturned their early deficit. Before half-time, however, the visitors would have to defend.

In the 39th minute, Sirigu saved a Coulibaly header at close range. One minute before the break, Loick Landre flashed a shot just wide of the post after dribbling powerfully through midfield.

Lens had the first chance of the second half, Pierrick Valdivia shooting straight at Sirigu from distance in the 50th minute. And from there, the match entered a new phase that threatened to descend into farce.

PSG won a penalty in the 53rd minute after referee Nicolas Rainville ruled that Gbamin had pushed Cavani to the ground in the box. Gbamin received his second yellow card for the foul and was subsequently sent off. After a delay, Cavani slammed his penalty straight down the middle for a 3-1 PSG lead.

It was Cavani's first goal since PSG's 1-1 draw at home to Lyon on Sept. 21, but there was precious little time to celebrate. Within moments, Cavani himself was sent off under bizarre circumstances.

First, Rainville showed Cavani a yellow card for the Uruguayan's goal celebration, which imitated the firing of a gun. Seconds later, Rainville showed Cavani another yellow—and then red—for dissent after Cavani pulled back the referee.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Rainville was not done, though. In the 59th minute, he sent off a third player, Le Moigne, for a second bookable offence. This time the infraction was a foul inside PSG's half on Cabaye, but Lens manager Antoine Kombouare was clearly incensed with the decision.

Both teams quickly made substitutions to shore up their depleted ranks. PSG, who were now down to 10 men, introduced Clement Chantome in place of Cabaye. Lens, who now had nine players, sent on Abdoul Ba for Yoann Touzghar.

With both sides at reduced strength, the match suffered in quality following the dismissals. PSG created the better chances, however, Pastore forcing a save in the 73rd minute before Moura blazed over the bar eight minutes later.

After seeing out three minutes of stoppage time—and avoiding any further dismissals—PSG will be grateful to leave with the full three points. And with the victory, Blanc's side find themselves in second place, no doubt with an eye on Marseille at the top.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Salvatore Sirigu	6.7
Gregory van der Wiel	7.1
Zoumana Camara	6.9
Thiago Motta	6.5
Maxwell	8.1
Marco Verratti	8.0
Yohan Cabaye	8.7
Blaise Matuidi	6.0
Lucas Moura	7.1
Edinson Cavani	7.0
Javier Pastore	7.4
Jean-Christophe Bahebeck (for Matuidi, 21')	6.4
Clement Chantome (for Cabaye, 63')	6.6
Presnel Kimpembe (for Motta, 76')	6.5

Post-Match Reaction