PSG’s visit to Lyon on Sunday night wasn’t just about PSG and Lyon. For both sides, this free-wheeling encounter foreshadowed their knockout ties in the Champions League. Lyon’s youthful and exuberant forward line gave PSG an idea of the threat they will face against Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s rejuvenated Manchester United next week; and PSG’s superior quality, ability to dominate possession and fluid attacking quartet gave Lyon an opportunity to test themselves against a force and a style comparable to Barcelona. Worryingly for Ernesto Valverde and an infuriated Thomas Tuchel, exuberance won out.

Recent meetings between France’s top sides – when played outside of Paris – have been dramatic. Neymar’s dismissal in Le Classique, Monaco’s 6-1 mauling of Marseille and Memphis Depay’s later winner and the ensuing tunnel brawl have punctuated the seasons with pivotal plot points. Lyon in particular have developed a knack of bloodying Parisian noses at Parc OL. Sunday night was no different.

Lyon’s victory was their third in four home league games against PSG and the 2-1 scoreline would have been inflated further were it not for two outstanding goalkeeping displays. Alphonse Areola, who is still being rotated with Gianluigi Buffon in the PSG goal, made a hat-trick of cat-like saves in the first half, including a lightening double stop to deny Memphis Depay. It was PSG, however, who took an early lead as Julian Draxler robbed the ball from Houssem Aouar before inviting Ángel Di María to stroke home.

Lyon, though, were comfortably on top for much of the first half and Areola’s omnipotence proved short-lived when he stumbled under a cross and gave Moussa Dembélé the chance to head home. A clumsy challenge from Thiago Silva on Dembélé just after half time gave Nabil Fékir the opportunity to fire Lyon ahead from the penalty spot. Then Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes took over. The way he tipped a shot from Kylian Mbappé over the bar even drew applause from the PSG forward. Despite having the majority of the ball, PSG were unable to create any further clear openings as the game wore on. Their unbeaten record in the league has ended.

Kylian Mbappé has drifted away to the fringes of games against tougher opponents at times this season. Photograph: Romain Lafabregue/AFP/Getty Images

Overall, PSG have evolved under Tuchel. They are now a more tactically diverse and adaptable side, as they showed while topping a brutally difficult Champions League group. Tuchel has also bred a sense of harmony – even determination – in a cliquey and brittle group. However, that impressive work started to slip against Lyon.

Thiago Silva has begun to look like the inspirational defender and leader many outside France still assume he is but, as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will have noted, he seemed unnerved by Dembélé’s movement. Julian Draxler’s recent majestic displays in midfield have made him a candidate for Ligue 1’s Player of the Season award but, despite creating the PSG goal, he was pressed into errors and Lyon were able to shut down much of his previously exacting passing.

Without Neymar, who the club say is ruled out for 10 weeks with a foot issue, PSG were lacking much of the individual brilliance they have fallen back on so often. Re-moulding a team that previously fitted around the Brazilian may take some doing before the journey to Manchester. With Neymar absent, Mbappé showed the odd flash of quality but retreated to the fringes of the game rather than dominating proceedings, which has become something of a trend against tougher opponents of late. Lyon proved that the Ligue 1 champions can be exposed by a pacy, aggressive and direct team. Solskjær, who watched on from the stands alongside assistant Mike Phelan, may have just the team to repeat that trick.

Just made it in time Lyon v PSG 👀⚽️🎓 pic.twitter.com/XRxb16wp6k — Mike Phelan (@Mike_Phelan_1) February 3, 2019

In beating PSG, Lyon again underlined their ability to upset a superior force. While they may also be susceptible to lapses in concentration against weaker teams – successfully suffocated by Strasbourg, Rennes, Nice and Reims this season – their 2-1 win at Manchester City as part of an undefeated Champions League group stage run underlines Bruno Génésio’s ability to set up his team to ambush more expansive opponents.

In an open game, Depay, Fékir, Dembélé and Bertrand Traoré exploited space and often threatened to overload PSG in transition. Barcelona remain clear favourites to reach the quarter-finals but an aggressive and direct Lyon with a record of upsetting the odds look to be increasingly slippery opponents.

What Solskjær saw at the Parc OL will give him confidence, but PSG’s 5-0 destruction of Lyon at the Parc des Princes in October offers an important caveat. PSG can be unsettled on the road but they are an entirely different proposition at home, where they have effortlessly dismantled all-comers domestically – Guingamp’s win in the league cup an aberration.

The 4-0 home win that preceded the remontada at the Camp Nou in 2017 remains especially illustrative of how PSG can build momentum in Paris and then collapse when pressurised away from home. Despite Tuchel’s progress in this area – which was on show when PSG put on a reserved display at Marseille and won 2-0 – mental strength remains an issue. When asked about the United game, Tuchel said he “wasn’t worried”. But, based on his evening in Lyon, perhaps he should be.

Ligue 1 talking points

• Angers have had a knack of improving strikers of late, with Famara Diédhiou and Karl Toko Ekambi both leaving Stéphane Moulin’s side for a considerable profit in recent years. This season looked set to be a struggle, though, with the departure of Toko Ekambi to Spain to be counterbalanced by the arrival of Stéphane Bahoken, scorer of exactly nine goals in the top flight, and at 26, not looking to be a player with much capacity for improvement. However, improve he has, scoring his seventh goal of the season in Saturday’s win over Dijon. He is unlikely to make Angers an eight-figure fee if he departs but, with the club nine points above the relegation zone despite barely spending any money in the summer, his goals seem to be worth the minimal investment of his wages.

• Continuing on with the theme of clubs punching above their financial weight, Reims handily beat Marseille in Saturday’s late fixture, a result that took the Champagne side above Frank McCourt’s “Champions Project” in the table. Europe is still probably a bridge too far, with Strasbourg set to face Guingamp for the Coupe de la Ligue title, but David Guion’s side have continued to impress – both in the transfer window and on the pitch. It remains to be seen how many of their players leave in the summer, but with youngsters such as Remi Oudin and Mathieu Cafaro finding their feet, Reims remain a compelling side to watch at the moment.

Quick Guide Ligue 1 results Show Ligue 1 results Lyon 2-1 PSG

Lille 4-0 Nice

Nîmes 1-1 Montpellier

Reims 2-1 Marseille

Rennes 1-0 Amiens

Angers 1-0 Dijon

Monaco 2-1 Toulouse

Ligue 1 table