The Japan Times - Godts stars as PSG beat Lyon to go top of Ligue 1

Godts, the Belgian international signed in the close season from Ajax, came off the bench and set up Senny Mayulu for the 72nd-minute strike which broke the deadlock at the Parc des Princes.

He then sealed the win late on as PSG made it eight straight wins in all competitions and moved into first place in the French table, one point ahead of Rennes.

The game was initially due to be played on Sunday before being postponed by 24 hours following a request by Paris police who wanted to divert resources amid a wave of violent protests in the French capital.

That meant a direct clash with the Ballon d’Or ceremony happening at the same time in London, in which 10 PSG players were among the 30 nominees for the most prestigious individual award in football.

Among the nominees were last year's laureate Ousmane Dembele and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, perhaps the team's standout performer during their run to a second straight Champions League title last season.

Dembele and Kvaratskhelia were both unavailable for this game anyway due to injuries picked up in last week's 4-2 win over Barcelona, with the latter facing months on the sidelines after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

A year ago Dembele picked up his Ballon d'Or award at a theatre in Paris while PSG were losing 1-0 in Marseille in a game postponed by 24 hours because of stormy weather.

This time PSG -- with Nuno Mendes and captain Marquinhos also injured -- maintained their focus to claim a fifth successive Ligue 1 victory, although it took them some time before they translated their dominance into a goal.

Godts, who replaced Joao Neves just before the hour mark, fed Mayulu on the edge of the box and the 20-year-old scored his first of the season with a fierce drive into the bottom corner.

Lyon had come close twice in the first half, with Julien Duranville and Zachary Athekame forcing good saves from Matvey Safonov.

They could have gone top themselves with a win, but PSG made sure of the three points as Quentin Ndjantou released Godts in the 84th minute and he picked his spot beautifully.

Rennes had gone top for 24 hours after a 3-0 win at home to Strasbourg on Sunday, while Lille and Monaco are both two points behind PSG after drawing 1-1 in the principality.

Lyon are fifth ahead of Paris FC on goal difference with both clubs three points behind the defending French champions.

K.Tanaka--JT