Désiré Doué played a pivotal role in guiding Paris Saint-Germain back to the top of Ligue 1 with a commanding 3-0 victory over the struggling Metz.
Doué and Bradley Barcola found the net in the first half at the Parc des Princes, while Gonçalo Ramos secured the win with a goal 13 minutes before the final whistle, marking PSG’s 16th consecutive league victory over their opponents, who have now earned only two points from their last 33 available.
This win enabled Luis Enrique’s team to capitalize on Lens‘ surprising 3-2 loss at home to Monaco—PSG’s midweek Champions League foes—to leapfrog into first place, now two points ahead.
PSG wasted no time in taking the lead, with Doué receiving a through-ball from Warren Zaïre-Emery and scoring just three minutes into the match against goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer.
Both Barcola and Ramos threatened to increase the score but had their shots blocked, while Achraf Hakimi narrowly missed after being set up by Lee Kang-in.
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Fischer denied Dro Fernández after a play led by Barcola, and Hakimi came closer with a long-range attempt before the end of the first half. Barcola missed narrowly three minutes later.
Fischer blocked a header from Lucas Hernández during stoppage time in the first half, but Barcola capitalized in the dying seconds, heading in from close range after Metz failed to clear a corner.
Doué was substituted for Ibrahim Mbaye at the half, but it was Metz’s Giorgi Tsitaishvili who threatened first at the start of the second half, with a long-range shot that was blocked in the 50th minute.
Boubacar Traoré shot just wide an hour into the game as Metz attempted to rally, but PSG struck back with opportunities from Ramos and Mbaye at the opposite end.
Luis Enrique introduced João Neves and Vitinha in an effort to boost the team with 27 minutes left, but Metz’s Jessy Deminguet narrowly missed the top corner with a shot in the 75th minute.
However, Ramos effectively ended the contest just two minutes later with a spectacular strike into the top corner, extending PSG’s lead.
As the match neared its conclusion, Zaïre-Emery and Hernández both sought a fourth goal, while Hakimi had an 82nd-minute effort blocked as PSG aimed to put the game beyond reach.
Mbaye’s attempt was also blocked shortly before the final whistle, but PSG had already done more than enough to secure the victory.