Former Champs Lee Kang-in won against PSG, Ilminamino Bertin Monaco
Lee Kang-in, who listed his name on the roster, failed to replace him
England's Newcastle and Champs will clash in the group stage on the 29th
French professional football league 1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) did not send Lee Kang-in (22), who returned from the national team call-up, to the league game. It is interpreted as a preparation for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) home game next week.
PSG beat AS Monaco 5-2 in the home game of the "2023-2024 Season French League 1 Round 13" at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, on the 25th (Korea time).
PSG, which had nine wins, three draws, one loss, and 30 points, remained in first place, widening the gap with Nice (26 points) in the league, which played one game less.
Lee Kang-in was listed on the roster on the day, but he did not start and was not deployed as a substitute. After returning from the second Asian qualifying match for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup in Seoul and Shenzhen, China on the 16th and 21st, he was rested due to this absence.
Even without Lee Kang-in, PSG won a great victory. Gonzalo Hamus scored the first goal in the 18th minute of the first half. Japanese national team Takumi Minamino scored the equalizer, but Kylian Mbake later scored the equalizer from a penalty kick to finish the first half with a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, PSG led 4-1 with additional goals from Usman Dembele and Vitinha. Opponent Polarin Balogun scored the chase, but Randal Kolo Moani scored a wedge in the 6th minute of the second half's extra time, giving PSG a 5-2 victory.''
Lee Kang-in is expected to focus on next week's Champions League game. PSG will play the fifth leg of the Champions League group qualifying match against Newcastle in the English Premier League on the 29th at its home stadium. With the fifth of a total of six games being held, PSG is second in the group with two wins, two losses and six points behind Dortmund in Germany (7 points).
The second place in the group will advance to the round of 16 tournament. No. 3 AC Milan can't be relieved as they chase by one point with five points. In addition, the final match, Game 6, can be difficult to accumulate points because it is away from Dortmund. For PSG, they need to win the fifth game against Newcastle to increase their chances of advancing to the round of 16.
Lee Kang-in's performance is essential. Lee Kang-in scored his PSG debut goal and his first Champions League goal in the third group qualifying match against AC Milan on the 26th of last month. However, in the Milan away match held on the 8th, he was not lucky, with a shot he tried after replacing in the second half hitting the net.
Attention is focusing on whether Lee Kang-in, who saved his stamina by missing league games, will be able to make the Champions League round of 16 for the first time. In 2020, when he was in Valencia, Spain, his team reached the round of 16 in the Champions League, but Lee Kang-in was not on the list in the first game and was on the list in the second game, but he could not participate.