PSG claim penalty win over Lyon to lift Coupe de la Ligue title

Both sides put out a strong lineup on the evening as the two heavyweight French sides met at the Stade de France in search of silverware. With the talent boasted by PSG and Lyon, many expected the game to be a high-intensity attacking one with perhaps lots of goals as well. The game took a different turn and didn’t follow […]
2020-08-01 13:08:06

Both sides put out a strong lineup on the evening as the two heavyweight French sides met at the Stade de France in search of silverware.

With the talent boasted by PSG and Lyon, many expected the game to be a high-intensity attacking one with perhaps lots of goals as well.

The game took a different turn and didn’t follow the script at all.

Lyon started as the better side and looked to dominate the early stages of the game. Les Parisiens started to grow into the match but were in need of that extra touch in the final third. The absence of Kylian Mbappe was clearly evident.

On a night where PSG had the likes of NeymarIcardi and Di Maria on the pitch, the best player on the pitch wasn’t even from their camp.

A number of brilliant saves from Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes kept Les Parisiens at bay as they chased for a historic title.

Both sides failed to capitalize on their chances and the game ended in a stalemate. There was drama in the last kick of the game as Rafael deliberately took out Di Maria who was clear on goal for PSG. He was given a straight red card in the 120th minute of extra time but there was no time for the deficit to prove consequential in anyway.

The winner had to be decided by a shootout, which saw Lyon’s Bertrand Traore miss following 10 perfect penalties, leaving Pablo Sarabia to clinch a shootout win.

The Coupe de la Ligue will now be retired following a lack of public interest. It means the possibility of winning a domestic quadruple in French football will no longer be possible.