Troyes v PSG Live Commentary & Result, 7/5/23, Ligue 1

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	PSG PSG	38	27	4	7	89	40	+49	85	L D W W W
2	RCL Lens	38	25	9	4	68	29	+39	84	W W W W W
3	OM Olympique Marseille	38	22	7	9	67	40	+27	73	L L L W L
4	REN Rennes	38	21	5	12	69	39	+30	68	W W W W L
5	LIL Lille	38	19	10	9	65	44	+21	67	D W W D L
6	ASM Monaco	38	19	8	11	70	58	+12	65	L L L D W
7	OL Olympique Lyonnais	38	18	8	12	65	47	+18	62	L W W L W
8	CLE Clermont	38	17	8	13	45	49	-4	59	W W L W D
9	NIC Nice	38	15	13	10	48	37	+11	58	W W D L W
10	FCL Lorient	38	15	10	13	52	53	-1	55	W L L D W
11	SR Reims	38	12	15	11	45	45	0	51	L L D L W
12	MON Montpellier	38	15	5	18	65	62	+3	50	W L W D L
13	TFC Toulouse	38	13	9	16	51	57	-6	48	W D D D D
14	BRE Brest	38	11	11	16	44	54	-10	44	L W W W L
15	STR Strasbourg	38	9	13	16	51	59	-8	40	L D D W W
16	NAN Nantes	38	7	15	16	37	55	-18	36	W L L D L
17	AJA Auxerre	38	8	11	19	35	63	-28	35	L D L L D
18	ACA Ajaccio	38	7	5	26	23	74	-51	26	W L L L D
19	TRO Troyes	38	4	12	22	45	81	-36	24	D L D L L
20	SCO Angers SCO	38	4	6	28	33	81	-48	18	L W D L L

That's all for today, goodbye.

The loss for Troyes means they must win all four of their remaining games to stand a chance of staying in Ligue 1. They travel to Rennes for their next match. As for PSG, they secure their fifth successive away win in the league and move six points ahead of second-placed Lens. Next up, the leaders host Ajaccio, who are just one point and one place above Troyes.

PSG extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points after a competitive game against relegation-threatened Troyes. Mbappe was in the right place to head in Vitinha's deflected cross from close range, with the ball bouncing off the bar and straight to the France captain. The visitors would have doubled their advantage heading into the break if not for Troyes goalkeeper Gallon, with the 30-year-old making two smart stops to deny Ruiz. However, PSG continued to put on the pressure, with Vitinha netting their second. Verratti's curling pass over the top of the defence found the former Wolves man. Vitinha's header was saved, but the ball rebounded against his leg and into the net. Troyes then got a goal back to half the deficit. Yade's cross found the head of substitute Chavalerin, with the midfielder getting ahead of Donnarumma to score. However, PSG regained their two-goal advantage three minutes later. Gallon blocked Mbappe's effort, but the ball drifted out to Ruiz, who curled his effort against the post and in.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: TROYES 1-3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Ismaël Gharbi

Vitinha

90' + 3' Vitinha scored the second goal of the game, as well as being involved in the first. He is now coming off, with Gharbi coming on for the final moments.

90' + 1' Sanches has been heavily involved since coming on as a substitute. He does well to dribble past one defender just outside the box, but his attempt is blocked, with the ball rolling straight to Gallon. Mbappe was free on the left and cannot believe that he did not get the ball.

90' There will be three minutes of additional time.

88' PSG have scored 20 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Ligue 1 this season.

Fabián Ruiz

Goal

86' GOALLLL! RUIZ SCORES! 3-1 PSG! That must be game over now. Sanches feeds the ball down the left side of the box into the feet of Mbappe, with the forward having his shot saved by Gallon. However, it only goes as far as Ruiz, who rushes onto it before curling his effort against the post and past the goalkeeper.

85' Vitinha looks for his second goal of the game after receiving the ball from Sanches, but his attempt from outside the box is high and wide.

P. Yade

Assist

84' Yade puts his cross into an inviting area. Donnarumma thinks he can get there but does not spot Chavalerin who darts into the space and heads his effort in.

X. Chavalerin

Goal

83' GOALLLL! TROYES GET ONE BACK! 2-1! Troyes still have a chance of getting something out of this game. Yade's cross finds Chavalerin in the middle of the box. He gets there before Donnarumma and heads his effort into the net.

P. Yade

Y. Larouci

81' Troyes make another change. Yade is replaced by Larouci.

Rony Lopes

I. Ugbo

80' Troyes make a switch. Ugbo has had a couple of chances to score, but they both came before the break. Lopes is on.

Renato Sanches

M. Verratti

80' Verratti has been the best player on the pitch and is now coming off for a well-deserved rest. Sanches takes his place in the midfield.

Carlos Soler

H. Ekitike

80' PSG make their first couple of changes of the game. Ekitike has had six shots but has failed to find the back of the net. However, he has done well to hold the ball and bring others into play. Soler replaces him.

78' The game is far from over as far as the goals are concerned. PSG are the team with the most goals scored in the final 15 minutes of their Ligue 1 games this season (19), while Troyes are the side who have conceded the most in that period (17).

77' Ekitike is on the floor after having his shot blocked but will be able to continue. Vitinha came over and lifted his left leg into the air.

76' Verratti has the ball just outside the box and sends a magnificent low pass to the right with Ekitike making the run forward. He looks to have a clear shot at the goal, but Palmer-Brown slides in to concede a corner.

74' Marquinhos has the ball next to the byline on the right and sends a pass into the feet of Mbappe. He shifts it onto his left foot before unleashing a shot from inside the box, but his attempt is blocked.

72' Larouci's cross from the left is turned behind for a corner by Zaire-Emery. However, the following corner from Odobert is cleared by Ruiz.

70' Pereira has the ball inside PSG's half and tries to curl a pass over the top of the Troyes defence towards Mbappe on the left. However, he is offside.

T. Baldé

A. Bruus

68' Bruus has not made much of an impact on the right and is now coming off. Thierno Balde replaces him.

R. Kouamé

L. Agoumé

67' Troyes make a couple of changes to try and change the momentum of the game. Agoume is replaced by Kouame, with the midfielder back from suspension.

65' Balde tries his luck from a distance, but his effort is blocked by Pereira.

63' Troyes have kept the ball for the last couple of minutes. They need to find a way back into this game if they want to stand any realistic chance of staying in Ligue 1.

61' Troyes have conceded 16 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in Ligue 1 this season.

Vitinha

Goal

59' GOALLLL! VITINHA SCORES! 2-0 PSG! Another fortunate goal for PSG, but they deserve it after dominating the game. Verratti does brilliantly to find Vitinha with a curling cross from outside the box. Vitinha’s header is saved, but it rebounds off the PSG man and into the net.

57' Troyes are winless in their last 14 Ligue 1 home games (drawing nine, losing five), the longest current drought in the top five European leagues.

56' PSG should have another goal given their dominance since the break. Mbappe drives towards the byline and pretends to shoot to get away from Bruus, who slides across to make a block. He lays it back to Ruiz for a shot, but he drags his attempt across the goal and wide.

55' Zaire-Emery has the ball just outside the box, playing a short pass to Mbappe before getting it back from the forward. He takes a shot under pressure from Chavalerin, but it goes well wide of the target.

54' WIDE! PSG are taking a lot of shots at the moment. Mbappe moves out to the left just outside the box and cuts inside before bending a shot just wide of the post.

52' Ekitike has the ball again, this time poking a throughball down the right side of the box to Verratti. His powerful effort from a tight angle is blocked by Gallon. The goalkeeper needs treatment after making the save, but will be able to continue.

50' Ekitike gets the ball on the left and drifts inside before driving a low shot straight at Gallon. He gets down to push the effort away from danger.

49' Verratti chips a pass down the left with Bernat racing forward. He gets to the byline and flicks the ball into the middle of the box towards Mbappe, but Troyes get it away.

48' PSG are unbeaten in their last 46 Ligue 1 matches when leading at half-time (winning 44, drawing two) dating back March 2021 against Nantes (lost 2-1).

46' The home side look for a fast start through Larouci, but his curling cross from the left is caught by Donnarumma.

46' Troyes get the ball rolling again.

Troyes were quiet for most of the first 45 minutes, but burst into life just before the break with a couple of good chances. They have been able to break forward with speed and have made the most of Ramos and Pereira not being as fast at accelerating. However, they will not get many opportunities and must be more clinical in the attack. As for PSG, they will be happy with the amount of shots they have had. Verratti has been excellent in the middle of the pitch and has dictated the tempo, only releasing longer and riskier passes when the option has been available. They will be disappointed they have not found their way past Gallon more than once, but will know they will get more chances when Troyes start chasing an equaliser.

PSG are on their way to their fifth successive away win after Mbappe gave the Ligue 1 champions the lead at the break. Vitinha's cross kindly defected into his path after hitting the top of the crossbar, allowing Mbappe to have a simple finish from close range. PSG would have scored another if not for Troyes goalkeeper Gallon. The Frenchman got down to push away two efforts from Ruiz, with the midfielder aiming for the bottom corner with both strikes. However, it has not been all PSG. Ugbo was denied an equaliser when Marquinhos blocked his goal-bound effort, with the striker also having a shot stopped by Ramos. Their best chance came moments before the break. Chavalerin found Balde in the middle of the box with a low cross, but his diving header was pushed behind by Donnarumma.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: TROYES 0-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Mama Baldé

Yellow Card

45' + 2' Balde is shown the first yellow card of the game after sliding down Ramos from behind. The former Real Madrid man looks to be in some pain, but gets back to his feet after a short time on the floor.

45' SAVE! That is a seriously good save from Donnarumma. Chavalerin is the creator for the second time in as many minutes, this time appearing on the right flank before bending a low cross into the box. Balde dives towards the floor to connect with a diving header, but his effort is pushed away from the bottom corner by Donnarumma.

43' Troyes have their second chance of the game to equalise. Chavalerin has the ball on the left and feeds a throughball into Ugbo, who rushes into the left side of the box. He opens up his body and looks to curl a low attempt into the bottom corner, but he takes too long, allowing Ramos to block.

41' PSG have avoided defeat in their last 52 matches when scoring the opening goal in Ligue 1 dating back to March 2021 against Nantes (lost 2-1). They have been in complete control this game, with Troyes yet to have a shot on target.

40' Mbappe gets the ball inside the Troyes box, with a yard of space opening up for him to shoot. However, he drags his effort wide of the post.

38' Vitinha bursts down the right side of the Troyes box to get on the end of a chipped pass from Zaire-Emery. He chests it down and takes a shot before the ball can hit the floor, but his attempt from a tight angle is caught by Gallon.

36' PSG are pinning Troyes into their own defensive third. Every outfield player is inside Troyes' half, with Ramos and Pereira on the edge of the attacking third.

34' Verratti scoops the ball over the top of the Troyes defence and to Mbappe on the left, but Rami recovers and gets back to block his cross from left to right.

32' Mbappe speeds through the middle of the pitch and through a number of Troyes defenders, but his touch is too far in front of him, allowing Gallon to come out and claim the ball. He thinks that he was pulled back before getting into the box, but the referee allows the game to continue.

30' PSG are patient outside the box, with Vitinha playing a short pass to Verratti. The Italy international looks up and spots the darting run of Ekitike, but his pass is caught by Gallon.

28' BLOCK! Huge chance for Troyes. Balde tries to get onto a throughball, but Donnarumma rushes out and takes the ball as well as the man. However, it only goes as far as Ugbo, who shoots low, but his goal-bound attempt is blocked by Marquinhos.

27' SAVE! Gallon stops Ruiz for the second time. Zoukrou does well to win the ball initially but sends possession straight to Ruiz just outside the box. The Spaniard is just to the left of centre, and lashes a shot towards the bottom corner, with Gallon getting a strong hand on it to push it out.

25' Troyes manager Kisnorbo has picked up 0.44 points per game with Troyes in Ligue 1, the lowest ratio ever for a coach with at least two games with ESTAC in the top flight.

23' Vitinha's outswinging corner is met by Pereira, but his header from the middle of the box goes just over the bar.

21' SAVE! Good stop from Gallon. Mbappe moves out to the left wing and feeds the ball inside to Ruiz. He wants the midfielder to return the ball to him, but Ruiz cuts inside before bending a shot towards the bottom corner. Gallon gets down to push his effort behind.

20' Ekitike has the ball on the edge of the box and shifts it onto his left foot before unleashing an effort at the goal. However, he slips before taking the shot, with the ball rolling straight to Gallon.

18' Nobody looks to put pressure on Ramos and the centre-back tries his luck from a distance, but his effort goes well wide of the target.

17' The game is now back under way. Troyes have the ball.

15' There are flares on the pitch and the referee stops the game.

15' Verratti has been operating in the middle of the pitch for most of the game but gets onto the right flank before crossing the ball to the left side of the box. Mbappe is stretching to get to the header and his attempt is tame.

13' Troyes have had more of the ball in the last couple of minutes, but have struggled to create anything. Everytime they move into PSG's half, they lose the ball with a loose pass.

11' Troyes have a rare chance in PSG's half, but Ugbo's ball forward to Balde is poor and Donnarumma collects it.

11' The ball is pulled into Troyes' box from the right, but Ekitike and Ruiz have shots blocked.

10' Troyes have failed to win in their last 15 matches when conceding the opening goal in Ligue 1 dating back to September 2022 against Clermont.

K. Mbappé

Goal

8' GOALLLLL! MBAPPE SCORES! 1-0 PSG! The goal is lucky but PSG will not care. Vitinha gets the ball on the right and looks to curl a cross into the box. However, it deflects off Palmer-Brown on the way through and hits the top of the bar. The ball does not go off the pitch and drops straight to Mbappe, who heads it in from close range.

5' Verratti takes a quick free-kick inside the Troyes half and curls a pass over the top of the defence to Mbappe, who bursts forward. He gets to the ball before it goes out for a goal-kick, but his effort crashes against the side of the net.

4' PSG are the team who have scored the most goals against Troyes in Ligue 1 (51 goals). PSG’s largest ever away win in Ligue 1 also came against Troyes in March 2019 (9-0).

2' Mbappe plays the ball down the left flank and towards the byline with Bernat getting forward. He aims a low cross at Ekitike, who rushes forward, but he pokes his attempt wide of the near post.

1' Marquinhos looks for an early ball over the top of the Troyes defence, but Larouci heads it back to the goalkeeper.

1' PSG get this Ligue 1 clash under way. Mbappe with the first kick.

1' Verratti has looked to create chances for others during this game but has a shot this time. He has the ball outside the box and takes a shot after receiving a pass from Vitinha, but it goes well over.

Troyes have just picked up 22 points after 33 games in Ligue 1 in 2022-23. In the three points for a win era, the previous 22 teams with a maximum of 22 points at this stage all finished bottom of the table.

PSG make three alterations to the side that lost to Lorient last time out. Hakimi is suspended after being sent off in the previous game, with the away side switching from two centre-backs to three. Pereira moves back into the defence and Zaire-Emery starts on the wing, pushing Vitinha into the midfield. Ruiz replaces Soler in the middle of the pitch and Ekitike comes in for the suspended Messi.

Troyes make one change to the team that were narrowly defeated by Nice in their last outing. Jeff Reine-Adelaide started the last game but misses out altogether, with Ugbo coming in and leading the line. Kouame is back from a one-game suspension and is on the bench.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Sergio Rico, Alexandre Letellier, Renato Sanches, Carlos Soler, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Serif Nhaga, Ismael Gharbi, Ilyes Housni.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (3-5-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Danilo Pereira; Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Marco Verratti, Fabian Ruiz, Juan Bernat; Kylian Mbappe, Hugo Ekitike.

TROYES SUBS: Mateusz Lis, Jackson Porozo, Rominigue Kouame, Rony Lopes, Ante Palaversa, Yoann Salmier, Thierno Balde, Papa Ndiaga Yade, Derek Mazou-Sacko.

TROYES (3-4-2-1): Gauthier Gallon; Tanguy Zoukrou, Adil Rami, Erik Palmer-Brown; Andreas Bruus, Xavier Chavalerin, Lucien Agoume, Yasser Larouci; Wilson Odobert, Mama Balde; Ike Ugbo.

PSG were 11 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after their narrow win over Brest in March, but a run of three defeats in six games has closed the gap between themselves and second place. The current champions have played one game less than Lens and are three points ahead of them, but a shock defeat today would certainly add nerves to their final four fixtures. However, they will still be confident going into this game. PSG have won their last four on the road and are unbeaten in their previous 16 matches against Troyes (winning 13, drawing three).

Troyes are winless in their last 16 Ligue 1 games and are on the brink of being relegated to the second tier of French football. 19th in the table, Patrick Kisnorbo’s side are 12 points away from safety with just five games left. As a result, a loss against PSG will mean that Troyes will have to secure maximum points in their remaining games to have a chance of staying in the division. They have won just once at home in the league this season, drawing nine and losing six of their 16 games. Indeed, their last triumph in front of their own fans was back in August when they beat bottom-of-the-table Angers.

Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Ligue 1 clash between Troyes and Paris Saint-Germain.

Troyes v PSG Live Commentary, 8/5/23

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