PSG suffer shock defeat against Nice
Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday ahead of next week’s trip to Real Madrid in the second leg of their blockbuster Champions League last-16 tie.
Nice earn a late 1-0 win over PSG #OGCNPSG #OGCNice
➡️ https://t.co/QhnGHONHe7 pic.twitter.com/dgTQWjwb9f
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) March 5, 2022
Substitute Andy Delort struck two minutes from the end as Nice won for just the second time in 18 league meetings with PSG, who struggled to create chances without suspended top scorer Kylian Mbappe.
Nice bolstered their chances of qualifying directly for a first appearance in the Champions League group stage, climbing into second place and moving two points above Marseille.
😍 A story in three parts…#OGCNice #OGCNPSG pic.twitter.com/7WAP8pjgIz
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) March 5, 2022
PSG remain 13 points clear at the top but the loss serves as a warning that Mauricio Pochettino’s side must sharpen up considerably to keep their European dreams intact on Wednesday.
Mbappe’s 24 goals this season are more than Lionel Messi, Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi combined, and his absence at the Allianz Riviera further underlined just how he important he is to the French champions.
No Mbappe, no party 😳 pic.twitter.com/MJ2rf3cQ5g
— GOAL (@goal) March 5, 2022
The France star, out of contract in July and strongly linked with a move to Madrid, will return well rested in Spain as PSG try to defend their 1-0 lead from last month.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Presnel Kimpembe are also likely to be recalled after being given the night off at the Allianz Riviera, while Idrissa Gana Gueye only made a brief appearance.