PLAYER RATINGS | Nantes 0 – 2 PSG: Kylian Mbappé scores from the bench to put Les Parisiens 14 points clear at the top
Ligue 1 leaders PSG played Nantes at La Beaujoire for the first game since news broke worldwide that Kylian Mbappé would be leaving Les Parisiens at the end of the season. PSG head coach Luis Enrique opted against starting the France captain with former Nantes centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani leading the line. Opposite the Spaniard, Jocelyn Gourvennec played it safe with a back five, inviting pressure from the visitors.
Even without Mbappé on the pitch, PSG had enough firepower to intimidate the hosts. Back-up Nantes goalie Rémy Descamps parried an inswinging goalwards cross from Bradley Barcola. Nantes replied with an overhit half-volley from Pedro Chirivella. Nantes’ plan to overcrowd their own half of the pitch was working somewhat, PSG struggled to create more than passing sequences around the box whilst the hosts started to make their presence felt.
Luis Enrique’s turnover did not pay dividends with Kang-in Lee and Kolo Muani failing to impress with Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé watching from the bench. Les Canaris even twice went very close to opening the score after Lucas Hernandez and then Marquinhos put their body on the line to save Gianluigi Donnarumma’s blushes. Nicolas Pallois then put the ball in the net but Pedro Chirivella was rightly flagged for a tight offside.
Luis Enrique shuffled his deck with Bradley Barcola making way for Gonçalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani now playing on the right. Les Canaris were gaining in confidence. Donnarumma remained focused to thwart a long-range effort from Pallois and then raced off his line before Kadewere had a sniff at goal. With Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé ready to come on at the hour mark, PSG went 1-0 up out of nothing. Hernandez tried his luck from
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