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PSG vs. Lille: Score, Reaction from 2016 Coupe de la Ligue Final
- Updated: April 23, 2016
Paris Saint-Germain won their third straight Coupe de la Ligue match by beating Lille 2-1 on Saturday in an absolute thriller at the Stade de France in Paris.
Javier Pastore opened the score in controversial fashion, but Djibril Sidibe pulled Lille level with a free-kick shortly after half-time. Both teams had their chances to take the lead, and all momentum appeared to shift to Lille after Adrien Rabiot was sent off for a second bookable offence after 70 minutes.
Instead, it was Angel Di Maria who handed Les Parisiens the lead back, and the Ligue 1 champions would hold onto it this time.
As shared by PSG’s official Twitter account, manager Laurent Blanc gave Serge Aurier the start at the right-back position and decided to leave Edinson Cavani on the bench:
PSG Starting XI vs. Lille in the French League Cup final confirmed!!! #PSGLOSC pic.twitter.com/ktIT5xijvu
— PSG English (@PSG_English) April 23, 2016
OptaJean noted it had been a while since Les Parisiens were last defeated in a national cup final:
2011 – Lille are the last team to beat Paris in a National Cup final : its was in Coupe de France 2011 (1-0). Memory.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) April 23, 2016
Di Maria had a great chance to open the scoring early, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic unselfishly laid the ball back from a great position. The Argentinian fired his shot straight at goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, however.
PSG took control of the ball early, while Lille were happy to sit back and aim for the counter-attack. Sidibe and Sofiane Boufal looked lively early, putting plenty of pressure on the PSG wings with their pace.
Aurier nearly picked out Ibrahimovic after making the byline, but his delivery sailed over the head of the Swede. Neither team managed to put together any great chances early, apart from Di Maria’s look, and Robin Bairner of Goal focused his attention on other things:
Ref’s mic is connected to the TV in this Coupe de la Ligue final, like in rugby. Enjoying that aspect of the coverage.
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) April 23, 2016
Sebastien Corchia made a key interception, just as Lucas Moura appeared to be through on goal, before Aurier ran into the first booking for the night for a rash challenge on Sidibe.
Boufal fired the free-kick into the box and had Salvatore Sirigu beat with his delivery, but Ibrahimovic was there to deflect the ball out for a corner kick. Minutes later, Morgan Amalfitano nearly took advantage of a poor block from Sirigu, firing his shot into the side netting.
Lille improved as the half wore on, but PSG still looked dangerous, and Corchia only narrowly headed a ball out of the path of Lucas and Blaise Matuidi, both of whom were ready to pounce.
Ibrahimovic …
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