Before receiving Dortmund on Tuesday then going to Marseille the next weekend, PSG conceded their first defeat of the season on Friday against pressing Nice.
It was not the return from the international break hoped for for the capital club. Paris Saint-Germain fell for the first time this season against OGC Nice (2-3), Friday September 15, at the Parc des Princes. If there is no good time to suffer a setback, this one comes at a particularly inopportune timing: four days before returning to the Champions League with the reception of Dortmund on Tuesday and a Classic against Marseille , next Sunday.
A rare occurrence since the Parisians – who waited until January to lose their first match last year – had only lost before a C1 group match twice in the last five seasons (for 24 victories and four draws). After two successful performances against Lens (3-1) and Lyon (4-1), Luis Enrique’s men were disturbed by the Aiglons, who applied the perfect plan, but above all they showed a less than reassuring face.
Under the Riviera dry cleaners
In a lively meeting where the players of Francesco Farioli multiplied the races, the defense suffered. Terem Moffi’s pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was uncomfortable on his feet, almost allowed Nice to open the scoring early in the game (5th). It was also on a loss of ball from Kylian Mbappé, harassed by Jean-Clair Todibo in overstepping twenty meters from the opposing goal, that the Parisians were the first to give in (21st).
Proof of the impact placed on recovery, the Riviera club made double the number of interceptions compared to the French champions (12 against 6). “They took advantage of the opportunities. To concede three goals at home is not possible”regretted Lucas Hernandez in the mixed zone. “ After an international break, it’s always difficult to win but I don’t want to make excuses. Nice were strong, they were better and we must improve.”recognized for his part the PSG coach, Luis Enrique, at the microphone of Prime Video after the meeting, still saying that he had appreciated the performance of his training.
Mbappé alone in front
In the absence of Marco Asensio, injured with Spain, Paris Saint-Germain was however only able to rely on Kylian Mbappé in attack, already author of his sixth and seventh goals of the season (29th, 87th). A statistical assessment all the more striking since his two starting partners on the offensive front, Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos, have still not found the fault. Despite a surplus, the Frenchman even forgot his Portuguese teammate on a counterattack to send his attempt from the right into the stands (27th). Through his dribbling, he has not yet managed to create any danger near the goal.
The former Benfica player didn’t do much better. Rarely found in the game, he was content with a header off target (37th) before giving way to Randal Kolo Muani (62nd), who still assisted on the 2-3 goal. “We must not forget that we are a new team with a lot of changes. We must allow a little time to work and play well together”reacted the last of the 11 summer recruits to the microphone of Prime Video.
The fact remains that with a Champions League group which looks rather tight on paper (Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle), Paris Saint-Germain will quickly have to find the automatic response.