PSG, largely overhauled with Kylian Mbappé on the bench, scored a third draw in Ligue 1 on Sunday against Reims (2-2) but remains well ahead of the championship with 10 points ahead of its runner-up Brest.
PSG – Reims 2-2
Four days after his qualification for the quarter-final of the Champions League, Luis Enrique decided to rotate, as was expected: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé started on the bench, while Keylor Navas was in goal instead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, left to rest.
It is now a habit in Ligue 1 since the announcement by the N.7 to the club management of his departure at the end of the season: as in Nantes after the round of 16 first leg of C1, Mbappé started on the bench, after also being taken out twice during matches against Rennes (1-1) and Monaco (0-0).
Long down jacket and hat on his head, he signed autographs before sitting on the Parisian bench before the match, showing no sign of discontent, before returning in the last quarter of an hour (73rd).
“We’ll see depending on the weather, if the sun is hot or not,” Luis Enrique once again quipped on Saturday about the presence of the French star in his starting lineup, while he takes advantage of his lead in championship to “prepare for next season”.
This big turnover, especially with Carlos Soler in the middle, allowed players to rest before future events: the quarter-final of the Coupe de France on Wednesday (9:10 p.m.) against Nice, and the quarter-final of C1 in April .
Mbappé, silent but applauded
But above all he showed the Parisian shortcomings in defense. Dominant in the game, PSG accumulated defensive errors.
First at the start of the match: Achraf Hakimi made a big mistake in the area after a bad reading from Navas, which allowed the Rémois to open the score (1-0, 7th).
And at the end of the first period: Emmanuel Agbadou’s splendid full-axis pass was not cut by anyone, breaking several lines towards Oumar Diakité who equalized (2-2, 45th).
“Tomorrow (Sunday), circumstances mean that it will be after a Champions League match. There is always the difficulty of motivating a player who has played in the Champions League. What is important is that you have to be concentrated as much as possible,” stressed Luis Enrique, who was once again without his captain, Marquinhos, who withdrew due to persistent pain in his Achilles tendon. and without Marco Asensio.
Despite the two Parisian goals, an own goal from Reims from Abdelhamid (17th) and a goal from Gonçalo Ramos (19th), the Parisians have once again failed to win in L1 for three matches, even if they continue their unbeaten streak for 22 matches. Reims, which has only won one of its last 8 matches, was unable to take advantage of PSG’s relaxation and defensive generosity.
The returns of Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, applauded by the Parc des Princes, at the end of the match changed nothing, even if they managed to create the gaps. Maybe a little too late.