PSG had a point to prove after a shock Coupe de France exit on Monday, and their previously unquestionable status as the most dominant team in French football is being tested after Lens’ barnstorming first half of the campaign.
They had a wobbly start here too, as Olivier Giroud rattled the bar, but Dembele allayed any early nervousness inside the Parc des Princes when he gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner latched onto Vitinha’s pass and unleashed a left-footed finish from the edge of the box, which clipped in off the post, with the strike marking his sixth goal involvement in as many games against Lille.
Luis Enrique’s side looked to cause more damage, but struggled to significantly test Berke Ozer again after their opener. Nuno Mendes skied his attempt over the bar, while Desire Doue’s attempt was comfortably held by the Lille shot-stopper at the end of a sweeping move.
The visitors threatened to deliver a sucker punch themselves when Ngal'ayel Mukau’s snapshot flew past the far post, leaving Bruno Genesio’s men with some encouragement heading into half-time.
The hosts were patiently probing in search of a second goal after the break, with the Mastiffs holding firm in their defensive shape. Mendes was involved in the thick of proceedings, having a goal ruled out for an offside infringement against Dembele before blazing a separate ferocious close-range attempt over the bar.
However, he struck again to double PSG’s lead with a goal which will be worthy of any inclusion in a career showreel.
The Frenchman bamboozled several Lille defenders in the box before executing a sublime lofted chip over Özer. Doué could have added extra gloss to the scoreline when his left-footed effort bounced into the ground, but Özer was on hand to parry it away to safety.
Ultimately, this was as comfortable a win as Enrique could have hoped for after Monday’s cup fiasco, and they even added a third in stoppage time through Bradley Barcola, who clinically punished the Lille defence for a late lapse in concentration.
The way in which PSG sauntered to victory here was the perfect response, and lays down the gauntlet to Lens ahead of their clash against Auxerre on Saturday. Meanwhile, a second successive league defeat is a blow for Lille’s European qualification aspirations, but they can only drop down a maximum of two places into sixth this weekend if results do not go their way.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)