Angers (AFP)

Paris SG, without convincing, regained the lead of Ligue 1 by winning in Angers (1-0) on Saturday, for the return as holder of its superstar Neymar.

A victory away from home, a "clean sheet", first place, no injuries ... PSG got it right, with a pragmatism that reminds Thomas Tuchel rather than Mauricio Pochettino.

Because Paris has still disappointed in the game, despite the promise of the new Argentine coach, who arrived in early January, to "win in style".

A late goal from Layvin Kurzawa, on the recovery of a center by Alessandro Florenzi (70th), got the Parisians out of the trap of the Raymond-Kopa stadium, where the mud stuck to them under the crampons.

Clumsy, tasteless in the first period, they are satisfied with the result which allows them to overtake Lyon, which plays Sunday against Metz.

In front of his television, in solitary confinement after having contracted the coronavirus, "Poche" had to blacken his notebook, so much work remains before reaching what he hopes.

The Parisian performance could even look like a step back after the Champions Trophy won on Wednesday against Marseille (2-1): Pochettino wanted this match to serve as a minimum standard for his players.

In the animation as in the intensity, the PSG was in difficulty.

However, the starting XI was more about the deadline for the knockout stages of the Champions League to come against FC Barcelona, ​​in a month exactly, than a Championship match at a regular with a soft stomach.

With Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Marco Verratti or Marquinhos, the stars of PSG were out, with a view to ramping up.

"Ney" regained his starting status after a month to treat his left ankle injury.

But this Paris, although attractive on paper, was caught up by the reality of a difficult season which left him no respite.

- Mbappé always clumsy -

The "Angevin sweetness", the PSG did not know it, during 90 minutes battered by the rain.

Even in the warmth, Pochettino must have felt a few chills.

The attempts of Pierrick Capelle (2nd) and Loïs Diony (52nd), stopped by Keylor Navas, underlined the fragility of a team which is still looking for itself, in the 4-2-3-1 preferred by the new management.

Spanish assistant Jesus Perez may have paced back and forth in his technical area, he did not find a solution to the Scoist bloc.

PSG's first clear opportunity, a duel lost by Mbappé against Paul Bernardoni (52nd), only came in the second half.

"Kyky" embodies the current site: he has not scored in 265 minutes of L1, his longest famine of the season.

His agreement with Neymar was not obvious, although "Ney" took over the role of N.10 which Marco Verratti had occupied since the beginning of the year, the Italian having gone down a notch, to his usual post.

The light finally came from the laterals.

Kurzawa's volley, on a Florenzi cross deflected by Romain Thomas, saved PSG from further harm.

The former Monegasque scored his first goal of the season.

With a week without a match until the reception of Montpellier on Friday, Paris can continue to work in serenity.

© 2021 AFP