Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) struggled to find their rhythm in a 1-1 draw against Nice on Sunday, allowing Monaco to maintain sole possession of the top spot in Ligue 1. Despite the return of Ousmane Dembélé to the starting lineup, PSG had a lackluster first half and only found their footing after the break.
The defending champions dominated possession but failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the opening half. Nice took the lead in the 39th minute when Ali Abdi scored with a deflected left-footed shot from the edge of the box. After the interval, PSG improved significantly, with Nuno Mendes equalizing in the 52nd minute with a deflected effort from outside the box.
Bradley Barcola, a forward for PSG, acknowledged the team’s sluggish start, stating, “We were not really into it during the first half. We woke up in the second half; it’s a shame we could not take our chances.” Marquinhos nearly snatched the win for PSG shortly after Mendes’ goal, but his header hit the left post.
Dembélé, who had been sidelined for PSG’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek, returned to the squad, but the team’s lack of offensive efficiency continued to be a concern. PSG remains three points behind unbeaten Monaco and five points ahead of third-place Marseille.
Lyon Continues Revival with Fourth Straight Win
In contrast, seven-time French champions Lyon are experiencing a resurgence, recording their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions with a 2-0 win over Nantes. However, fan violence marred the match at Groupama Stadium, prompting Lyon to condemn the clashes as “unworthy” of the club’s stature.
Nicolas Tagliafico opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, converting a cross from Saïd Benrahma for his first goal of the season. Nantes squandered multiple chances to equalize and were ultimately punished in the second half when defender Nicolas Pallois inadvertently scored an own goal while attempting to defend a cross from Corentin Tolisso. This victory pushes Lyon to three wins from their first seven league matches, providing some cushion above the relegation playoff zone.
Other Match Highlights
In other Ligue 1 action, Reims climbed to fourth place with a commanding 4-2 victory over Montpellier. Captain Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute. Keito Nakamura doubled the lead with an impressive strike, while Oumar Diakité and Teddy Teuma contributed to Reims’ total. Montpellier remains in the relegation zone with the league’s worst defensive record, having conceded 21 goals.
Additionally, Brest continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over Le Havre, following a 4-0 win against Salzburg in the Champions League. Lens managed a 2-2 draw against Strasbourg.
As the season progresses, PSG faces increasing pressure to catch up with Monaco, while Lyon aims to build on their recent successes.
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