Football Match: Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 to Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday, putting them one step closer to facing Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next week. Nice triumphed for the second time in 18 league meetings with PSG thanks to substituting Andy Delort’s goal two minutes from time. PSG struggled to create chances without suspended top scorer Kylian Mbappe. Nice improved their prospects of qualifying directly for the Champions League group stage for the first time, getting into second place and moving two points ahead of Marseille.
PSG is still 13 points clear at the top, but the defeat serves as a reminder that Mauricio Pochettino’s team must improve dramatically if they are to keep their European hopes alive on Wednesday.
“We were a little bit unlucky. In the end, maybe we didn’t deserve to win, but we didn’t deserve to lose,” Pochettino told broadcaster Canal Plus.
“We didn’t find the solutions in the last 20 metres but we have to think about the next game against Madrid. It’s very important for us but we are very disappointed with the defeat.”
Mbappe has scored more goals than Lionel Messi, Neymar, Angel Di Maria, and Mauro Icardi combined this season, and his absence at the Allianz Riviera highlighted just how vital he is to the French champs.
“They have (Marco) Verratti, Neymar, Di Maria, Messi… they mix well with other players,” Nice coach Christophe Galtier remarked.
“To beat Paris, you need everyone to be on the same page. Against them, we’ve scored four points. That doesn’t happen very often, but it compensates for a few errant points.”
In Madrid, it’s crunch time
Mbappe, who is out of contract in July and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, will be well-rested in Spain as PSG attempts to protect their 1-0 advantage that the France star secured last month with an injury-time goal.
After being given the night off at the Allianz Riviera, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Presnel Kimpembe are also expected to be recalled, while Idrissa Gana Gueye only had a brief cameo.
Nice’s Amine Gouiri, who led the club to their first French Cup final since 1997 in Tuesday after a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Versailles, threatened twice early on.
As Nice’s rapid ball movement troubled the visitors, the former Lyon star pushed Keylor Navas into a save low to his right before bending another drive just wide.
While Messi was kept quiet, Neymar released Di Maria in behind the Nice defence, but the Argentine’s attempted scoop was flicked behind by Walter Benitez’s fingertips.
A repetition of the 0-0 draw between the clubs in December appeared to be on the cards until Delort scored minutes after Justin Kluivert squandered a golden opportunity for Nice.
PSG suffered their third defeat in Ligue 1 this season as Calvin Stengs whipped in a cross that Delort met on the half-volley and slammed in via the underside of the crossbar.
Marseille could retake second place on Sunday when they face a Monaco side still reeling from their French Cup semi-final penalty shootout loss to Nantes.
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