Lee Kang-in's goal contributions in PSG win draw mixed French media reviews

[OSEN=Jung Seung-woo, Reporter] Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain), who returned to the starting lineup after three matches, demonstrated his presence by contributing to both of his team's goals, but local evaluations were mixed.

PSG defeated Auxerre 2-0 in their Ligue 1 Round 6 home game held at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, on the 28th (Korean time) in the 2025-2026 season. Having shaken off the shock of their previous loss to Marseille, PSG reclaimed the top spot with 5 wins and 1 loss (15 points). Auxerre remained in 13th place with 2 wins and 4 losses (6 points).

Manager Luis Enrique deployed a 4-3-3 formation. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gonçalo Ramos, and Ibrahim Mbaye led the attack, while Seni Keita, Vitinha, and Lee Kang-in operated in midfield. The defense consisted of Lucas Hernández, Ilya Zavarnin, Lucas Beraldo, and Warren Zaïre-Emery, with Lucas Chevalier in goal. PSG rotated some players ahead of their Champions League match against FC Barcelona on the 2nd of next month.

PSG dominated from the start. In the 32nd minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in connected a short corner kick on the right side, and Vitinha's cross was finished with a left-footed volley by Zavarnin to open the scoring. Lee's sharp set-piece was pivotal. However, misfortune struck immediately: key midfielder Vitinha collapsed from injury in the 36th minute and was replaced by Achraf Hakimi.

PSG maintained momentum in the second half. In the 9th minute, Lee Kang-in played the ball out from the left flank, and Beraldo headed home from Keita's cross to make it 2-0. Auxerre threatened with a post-hitting shot, but PSG secured a clean sheet behind Chevalier's saves.

Lee Kang-in played 80 minutes until being substituted for 2008-born prospect Mathis Jean in the 35th minute of the second half, marking his longest appearance this season. Football statistics platform 'FootMob' gave him a rating of 7.5. He recorded an 89% pass success rate (64/72), 2 key passes, and 2 successful crosses, contributing to the attack. Most notably, both goals originated from his short corner kicks, underscoring his significance.

Local French reactions differed. 'Foot Mercato' criticized him with a 4.5 rating, stating, "He committed 15 turnovers and failed to create impact after receiving the ball." 'Culture PSG' awarded a 5.0 rating, commenting, "He managed the ball well but struggled against Auxerre's physicality." 'Paris Fans' also gave a 6.0 rating, noting, "He was active but lacked follow-up movement and tempo."

Though local media evaluations were divided, Lee Kang-in's extended playing time under Enrique's trust brightens his prospects. With Vitinha injured and Kvaratskhelia not fully fit, Lee is likely to receive another opportunity in the Champions League group stage second leg against Barcelona.

After the match, Enrique emphasized, "There were many positives. Matches following Le Classique and ahead of the Champions League are always challenging. Today, I'm very pleased," while adding, "The issue is the condition of some players like Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia. We need to confirm their status within a day or two." /reccos23@osen.co.kr

Lee Kang-in's Goal Contributions Divide French Media