Gerard Precheur has described PSG’s table-topping clash with Lyon ‘like our own final’, after his side edged to a 1-0 victory over the reigning French champions on Sunday to leapfrog them at the Division 1 Feminine summit.

Lyon saw the better opportunities over the course of the game, registering 20 shots to PSG’s six at the Groupama Stadium. But Kadidiatou Diani netted an 87th minute winner for the visitors, volleying home a corner at the back post to cue scenes of mass delirium.

The victory is PSG’s second big league win in as many weeks, having narrowly beaten third-place Paris FC 1-0 the weekend before. Precheur credited that result as influential to his side’s win over Lyon.

“We knew that it was an important encounter, but I had decided to approach it without any pressure,” Precheur told PSG’s official club website at full-time. “We said that we would play the match last week against Paris FC like a semi-final. My team put in a very good performance, so today, it was almost like our own final during this World Cup period.

“What is quite surprising is that generally, it’s Olympique Lyonnais who manage to win these matches from set-pieces. But this evening it was us, so of course, that’s nice to see.

“I think there was a bit of a turning point against Paris, who are a very good team. We put in a very good performance, and this evening we were able to ride on the wave on that result with a touch of luck. That’s part of football, and it’s the first time that we have won a match like this since the start of the season, so it’s a very good sign.” 

The result leaves PSG a point clear of Lyon at the top of Division 1 Feminine heading into 2023.