Young duo Ndjantou and Mbaye shine as PSG defeat Metz to claim Ligue 1 lead

Youngsters Quentin Ndjantou and Ibrahim Mbaye took centre stage as Paris Saint-Germain reclaimed the Ligue 1 summit with a gritty 3-2 triumph over struggling Metz on Saturday.

Ndjantou notched his debut strike for the team, while Mbaye provided a pair of assists, and Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos along with replacement Desire Doue contributed the remaining goals for PSG.

With the Intercontinental Cup final against Brazilian outfit Flamengo in Qatar looming just four days away, manager Luis Enrique chose to spare numerous key players for the journey to northern France.

Although Ballon d'Or recipient Ousmane Dembele was sidelined due to recent illness and unfit to feature, Luis Enrique kept Doue, Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and custodian Lucas Chevalier as unused substitutes.

In their place, 17-year-old Mbaye and 18-year-old Ndjantou flanked Ramos up front, and the pair delivered impressive performances.

Following a subdued start, the match ignited during the closing stages of the opening period.

Ramos opened the scoring for PSG by nodding in a delivery from Lee Kang-in in the 31st minute.

Six minutes before the interval, Ndjantou steered in Mbaye's teasing centre from close range.

However, only three minutes later, Jessy Deminguet unleashed a fierce shot from distance for Metz after a deflection landed favourably for him.

Danish shot-stopper Jonathan Fischer thwarted Ramos with a sharp stop to maintain Metz's hopes post-interval.

Habib Diallo spurned an opportunity to level shortly before the hour, miscuing his half-volley from the penalty area's fringe beyond the post.

Doue appeared to clinch the points for PSG by surging from deep in his own territory, set free by Mbaye, while Metz pressed forward during a set-piece.

Doue covered 70 yards before coolly finishing beyond Fischer.

One week on from his initial goal of the campaign versus Rennes, Mbaye struck the frame of the goal in the 71st minute.

Georgiy Tsitaishvili offered Metz a lifeline with a bending shot from afar nine minutes before the end, yet PSG clung on.

Lens have the chance to regain the Ligue 1 pinnacle should they overcome Nice, a side enduring eight consecutive defeats across all tournaments, on Sunday.

Earlier that afternoon, Rennes climbed to fifth position thanks to a 3-1 turnaround win against Brest.