In the fifth of the Championship, "the key will be to score goals, to be more efficient in front of the cages", assured Friday the coach Mauricio Pochettino, on the eve of the shock of the 17th day.

Behind, Pocchetino will have to do without Sergio Ramos.

Barely back - with a promising first tenure in Saint-Etienne last week - Ramos will not be traveling to Pas-de-Calais due to "muscle fatigue following the resumption in competition", announced the club Friday.

Another reason to rely on the obvious: in Lens, you will have to score to win.

The last mixed exit of the PSG (0-0 against Nice), pushed the Argentinian technician to recall the fundamentals.

On Wednesday, the Parisians finished their first scoreless home game since April, a poor performance severely judged by the press.

The Championship leader, again shaken up, showed no clear signs of progress in the game, while "Poche" has been promising improvements for weeks.

"We will try to work on the mastery and the finish," assured midfielder Idrissa Gueye after the meeting.

We can count in its ranks the superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi, and have problems scoring.

Although the best attack in the Championship, PSG have reached their limits in the Champions League, their main objective, where they are the fifth team that draws the least from the competition.

Kylian Mbappé relieves Lionel Messi, victim of a Nantes fault, during the success of PSG at the Parc des Princes, November 20, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

The Argentine "Pulga" embodies this complicated period.

With a goal in nearly ten hours spent on the field in the Championship, the man with the seven Ballons d'Or presents a record unworthy of his record.

"It's a question of efficiency and time. He will score goals. He has always scored, and he will continue to do so," replied Pochettino, when asked about the use of his N.30.

Icardi is waiting for "his chance"

Messi is not helped either by the recurring injuries since the start of the season: Marco Verratti, the most creative of the midfielders, has missed more than half of L1 matches.

Neymar, he is unavailable until mid-January, due to a sprained ankle contracted last Sunday.

His injury keeps the "MNM" in a state of repair, and forced Pochettino to try new things, such as positioning Mbappé on the left wing against Nice, while he had been moving in the center since the start of the season.

Mauro Icardi with Paris against Lille at the Parc des Princes, October 29, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

When his tactical adjustments do not work, the Parisian attack can seem dependent on the individual exploits of "Kyky" (9 goals in all competitions), or of Di Maria (3 goals) ... Or a substitute.

But in recent weeks, no player from the bench has created a difference, starting with Icardi.

Author of an encouraging start to the season, with three goals in his first five Ligue 1 matches, the Argentinian "Goleador" lost his way to the goal after going through a family crisis in October with his wife and agent Wanda.

"Mauro is waiting for an opportunity to play. He had a little problem. Today he is good again. He is working to get his chance," said Pochettino, who also said there would be a change at the stadium. Felix Bollaert-Delelis.

In Lens, in January, he scored against Marseille (2-1) to offer PSG the Champions Trophy.

In this season so complicated for him, here is finally a welcome landmark.

© 2021 AFP