Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) played 60 minutes but couldn’t help secure a victory for his team.

On January 26 (KST), Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosted Reims at the Parc des Princes in the 19th round of the 2024-2025 Ligue 1 season. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

With this result, PSG extended their unbeaten streak to 19 matches since the season began, maintaining their spot at the top of the league with 47 points (14 wins, 5 draws). They now sit 10 points clear of second-placed Olympique de Marseille (37 points).

Starting XI

PSG lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gonçalo Ramos, and Ousmane Dembélé up front. Lee Kang-in, Fabian Ruiz, and Désiré Doué formed the midfield trio, while Nuno Mendes, Lucas Hernández, Lucas Veríssimo, and Warren Zaïre-Emery comprised the defense. Gianluigi Donnarumma started in goal. It was Khvicha’s debut for PSG.

Reims, on the other hand, fielded a 4-2-3-1 setup with Umar Diakite, Keito Nakamura, Junya Ito, and Teddy Teuma leading the attack. John Patrick and Marshall Munetsi anchored the midfield, with Sergio Akieme, Cédric Kipré, Valentin Atangana, and Aurelio Buta in defense. Yehvann Diouf was the goalkeeper.


Match Highlights

PSG began pressing early. In the 14th minute, Dembélé cut inside from the right flank and fired a shot, but the Reims goalkeeper made a solid save. In the 22nd minute, Lee Kang-in intercepted the ball to initiate a counterattack, but Doué’s long-range effort sailed just wide of the left post.

Gonçalo Ramos had the best chance to score first for PSG. In the 26th minute, high pressing allowed PSG to win the ball deep in the opposition's half. However, Ramos’ attempt to dribble past the goalkeeper and finish was blocked. Moments later, Ramos met a Lee Kang-in corner with a header, but it flew over the bar.

Reims countered quickly, and in the 29th minute, Nakamura found himself one-on-one with Donnarumma, only for the PSG keeper to deny him with excellent positioning. PSG had another golden opportunity in the 30th minute when Ramos met a perfect cutback pass from Doué, but his strike hit the post after a slight touch by the goalkeeper.

Lee Kang-in tried his luck in the 36th minute. After receiving a pass from Khvicha in a chaotic situation, Lee fired a shot, but it lacked power and was easily gathered by the keeper. The first half ended goalless.


Second-Half Action

PSG struck first early in the second half. In the 47th minute, Khvicha cut inside from the left, exchanged passes with Doué, and laid the ball off to Dembélé, who struck a left-footed shot that deflected off a defender and into the net. It marked Khvicha’s first assist for PSG.

However, Reims quickly equalized. In the 56th minute, Nakamura drove forward on the counter and passed to Ito. After a short exchange, Munetsi laid the ball back to Nakamura, who curled a right-footed shot into the net to make it 1-1.

Lee Kang-in’s involvement ended in the 60th minute. Manager Luis Enrique substituted him, Dembélé, and Hernández for Vitinha, Bradley Barcola, and Willian Pacho, likely saving Lee’s energy for the upcoming UEFA Champions League group stage match against Stuttgart on January 30.

Despite PSG’s efforts to find a winner, with substitutes such as Noah Sangui, Senny Mayulu, and Marco Asensio coming on, they failed to break Reims’ defensive line. Mendes had a chance in the 86th minute from a corner, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. The match ended 1-1, marking PSG’s second draw against Reims this season.


Player Performance and Analysis

According to football statistics platform FotMob, Lee Kang-in recorded:

  • 2 shots
  • 84% pass accuracy (27/32)
  • 1 key pass
  • 1 successful dribble (out of 2 attempts)
  • 1 accurate cross (out of 3)
  • 4 ground duels won (out of 6)
  • 3 fouls won
  • 4 recoveries

He received a rating of 6.9.

French outlet Foot Mercato rated him 4.5, stating, "Lee Kang-in showed good intent throughout the game. He delivered a great pass in the 17th minute and created a decent chance in the 35th. However, as has been the case at times this season, he lacked sharpness in key moments."

Meanwhile, 90MIN France and Paris Fans both gave him a 5.5 rating. 90MIN France commented, "Positioned in midfield tonight, Lee Kang-in brought cohesion among the players. While he frequently looked for creative solutions, his efforts weren’t always successful. His ball control and technical skills stood out, but his overall impact on the game was limited."

Paris Fans added, "Lee played a decent game but sometimes lingered too long on the ball, failing to be decisive in key moments. He has the potential to improve, particularly in turning possession into impactful actions."