Ligue 1 2025-26: PSG beats Metz to return to top of the standings after Lens lost to Monaco

Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola scored in the first half as Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 standings with a 3-0 home win over Metz following a miscue by title rivals Lens at home to Monaco on Saturday.

PSG have 54 points from 23 games, two more than second-placed Lens, who let a two-goal lead slip as they lost 3-2 to Monaco.

“We messed up,” Lens coach Pierre Sage said.

«We had the win in hand, we played quite well in the second half and were pretty much focused on finishing the game this way. The three goals we conceded were individual and collective mistakes. We still have 11 games to play and the chance to achieve our goal,» he added.

PSG took the lead against Metz within three minutes, and it was far too easy. Warren Zaire-Emery played Doue on target as the visitor had a high defensive line, and the latter finished unopposed for his ninth goal of the season.

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The Parisian club added a second in first half extra time when Metz failed to clear a corner and Goncalo Ramos sent the ball back across goal, allowing Barcola to head into the net.

PSG had to wait until the 77th minute for its third goal as it won possession on the edge of Metz’s penalty area and Goncalo Ramos fired home a shot from a tight angle.

Ansu Fati scored the winner as Monaco came from behind to beat Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Lens took the lead within three minutes thanks to a spectacular volley from Odsonne Edouard and extended its lead after 56 minutes when Florian Thauvin reacted quickest to a rebound and scored.

But Monaco hit back six minutes later when Folarin Balogun took a pass from Mamadou Coulibaly and fired low into the net.

Two goals in as many minutes changed the game as Denis Zakaria’s bullet header leveled the scores, before a moment of brilliance from Fati gave the visitors the lead.

He gathered possession after a defensive error by Lens on the halfway line before tapping the ball over goalkeeper Robin Risser.

Published on February 22, 2026