Last-minute Drama: Enrique Defends PSG’s Keeper in a 3-2 Lyon Rollercoaster

Enrique defends PSG's goalkeeper after Lyon win

Spanish coach Luis Enrique, who runs Paris Saint-Germain, said goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier did not bear the blame for Lyon's two goals in the 3-2 win on Sunday that closed matchday 12 in Ligue 1.

In remarks highlighted by Le Parisien, he explained that the fault lay with the defenders; the line should push higher when pressing, or the team would have to chase the attacker, and these were individual errors that must be corrected.

He added that Lyon played very well, despite injuries, but that they are a strong side he admires.

Regarding the stoppage-time winner, Enrique praised his team's resilience, noting that they showed the right mindset to win even as Lyon twice equalized and the clock ran down.

The PSG boss stressed the importance of staying on top of the table, saying wins in tough moments are also required.

Enrique then saluted young midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, used at right-back, saying he plays with growing confidence this season, can cover multiple positions, and is a valuable addition when depth is needed.

He added, "We will continue to work, but we still need to sharpen the defensive work after two errors against Lyon, and we must know when to push the line and when to pull back."

On Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves, who scored in the last two matches against Bayern Munich and Lyon, Enrique said, "Every player matters, especially those who score; I hope all players stay fit so we can perform normally, because the circumstances have been unusual since the season began."

Enrique closed by congratulating South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in on his 100th PSG appearance since joining from Mallorca in 2023, saying, "he's special from set-pieces, executes them with precision, and is a quality player who continues to improve like his teammates."

Match details

PSG led twice through Warren Zaïre-Emery and a second scorer in the 26th and 33rd minutes; Lyon equalized with goals by Afonso Moreira and Enes Maitland-Niles in the 30th and 50th minutes.

PSG sealed the win with Joao Neves's stoppage-time strike in the 95th minute after Lyon were reduced to ten following Nicolas Tagliafico's 93rd-minute red card.

With the victory, PSG moved to 27 points, boasting eight wins, three draws and one loss, reclaiming top spot. Lyon remained seventh with 20 points, level on goal difference with Lille and Monaco.

PSG lined up without four key players, including defenders Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, and wingers Desiré Dou and Ousmane Dembélé, who is ruled out for weeks due to injuries.

In head-to-head, the teams have met 112 times; PSG have won 52, Lyon 34, with 26 draws. PSG have scored 197 goals to Lyon's 149 in this duel, according to Transfermarkt.

PSG's 2025-2026 season snapshot

PSG have eight league wins this season, one defeat to Marseille (0-1) in the Classique, and three draws, after opening with 1-0 wins over Nantes and Angers, followed by a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse and a 2-0 win over Lens. A 2-0 win over Auxerre, then a 1-0 loss to Marseille, marked a bumpy start. During the October international break, they drew with Lille (1-1) and Strasbourg (3-3) before beating Brest, drawing with Lorient, then beating Nice, before edging Lyon in a tight encounter, as they chase the domestic title for a fifth straight season. In Europe, PSG have played five matches, winning four, starting with UEFA Super Cup glory against Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. In the Champions League, they began with three straight wins: a 4-0 win over Atalanta at home, a 2-1 win at Barcelona, and a 7-2 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, before a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the fourth match.

Humor time: if PSG’s defense keeps leaking goals, they should start charging admission for the goalkeeping clinic. And on the bright side: at least the goalkeepers are getting their cardio in—twice, they’ve chased the attackers all the way to the post-match tacos.