Brilliant in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with a success acquired in extremis – but deserved – against Real Madrid (1-0) in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain returned to Ligue 1 on Saturday evening with a trip to Nantes.
A trip very badly negotiated by the team of Mauricio Pochettino, defeat (3-1) at La Beaujoire, after forty-five catastrophic first minutes (3-0 at the break). A call to order without consequence in the standings for Mbappé and others, who still have a thirteen-point lead over Marseille while waiting for their runner-up’s match against Clermont this Sunday.
Second setback of the season for PSG
But this defeat, the second of the season for PSG, after a loss to Rennes (2-0)… on October 3, is not to be taken lightly. If, in recent days, we praised the ability of this team to force the decision in the last minutes despite an often disappointing production – in Ligue 1 in any case – the match in Nantes proved that they could quickly find themselves exceeded when his opponent is successful.
The match sheet
NANTES 3 – PARIS SG 1
In Nantes (Beaujoire stadium). Half time: 3-0. Referee: Mickael Lesage.
Goals: Kolo Muani (4th), Merlin (16th), Blas (45th + 6, sp) for Nantes; Neymar (47th) for Paris SG.
Warnings: Casteletto (18th), Appiah (44th) in Nantes; Verratti (38th), Wijnaldum (45th), Neymar (50th), Mbappé (83rd), Hakimi (90th+1), Di Maria (90th+3) at Paris SG.
On counterattacks, the Canaries punished PSG, by Randal Kolo Muani (4th) closely, Quentin Merlin (16th) with a clear shot and on a penalty from Ludovic Blas after additional time.
We did believe, however, that Paris had the ability to come back when Neymar, for his first visit to La Beaujoire in four and a half seasons, found the net (47th). But the Brazilian playmaker, for his first tenure in three months, also has his share of responsibility in this defeat, with a penalty much too soft and stopped by Lafont (59th). The same Lafont who had worked in front of Bernat (3rd), Messi (8th), Mbappé (19th, 54th) and Draxler (84th). Impregnable.
Despite constant domination, Paris never recovered. A warning without consequence but also a sign that the Parisians have no room to relax.