Luis Enrique’s decision to rest his stars ahead of a UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona almost backfired when Paris Saint-Germain came close to a shock defeat to bottom club Clermont Foot.
PSG needed a classy 86th-minute equaliser from Goncalo Ramos, set up by the substitute Kylian Mbappe, to avoid a second consecutive defeat at home to Clermont.
Enrique changed the entire XI that started the French Cup semi-final win over Rennes in midweek, with Mbappe and Marquinhos among those on a star-studded bench.
The team he picked would usually have been strong enough to win the game, but PSG started sluggishly and did not apply any sustained pressure until the second half.
By then Habib Keita had given Clermont a surprise lead with a scruffy but precious goal on the break.
The second half was one-way traffic, both before and after the introduction of Mbappe. Achraf Hakimi and Ramos both hit the bar for PSG before Ramos combined beautifully with Mbappe to score the equaliser.
The result means that PSG need a maximum of nine points from their last six matches to win their 10th Ligue 1 title in 12 seasons.
Talking Point – Was Enrique right to make so many changes?
Rotation is one of the toughest tasks for an elite manager, particularly at the business end of the season. Selections that look reasonable before kick-off are routinely criticised with hindsight if the result doesn’t go as planned.
Luis Enrique’s decision to change all 11 players was made with Barcelona in mind, and his reserve side was still full of established and future internationals. A draw against Clermont is not the end of the world – PSG are going to win Ligue 1 – but it means they have lost a little momentum going into their Champions League quarter-final.
If they beat Barcelona handsomely, Enrique will be a genius. If they lose, rightly or wrongly, the result will be traced back to his team selection tonight.
Player of the Match – Johan Gastien (Clermont Foot)
Clermont Foot’s three centre-backs all defended admirably – but they needed support, particularly during an exhausting second half. Johan Gastien, playing just in front of the defence, read the play superbly and diligently put out a number of fires in and around the Clermont penalty area. At the age of 36 he is not the most athletic player, but his brain and experience more than make up for that.
Player Ratings
Paris Saint-Germain: Tenas 6, Mukiele 7, Skriniar 6, Danilo 6, Zague 7, Soler 7, Ugarte 6, Mayulu 7, Asensio 7, Ramos 7, Kolo Muani 6. Subs: Hakimi 8, K Mbappe 7, Marquinhos 7, Lee 6.
Clermont Foot: Ndiaye 7; Caufriez 7, Matsima 8, Pelmard 8, Borges 7, Gastien 8, Keita 7, Allevinah 6, Cham 7, Magnin 6, Virginius 7. Subs: Zeffane 7, Nicholson 6, Jacquet 6, Bela 6.
Match Highlights
32’ – GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Clermont Foot (Keita) Boos ring round the Parc des Princes after Habib Keita gives Clermont Foot the lead! It was a dreadful goal for PSG to concede, starting with Skriniar’s failure to properly clear a ball into the area. Magnin’s up-and-under from the right was dragged back into a dangerous area by Virginius at the far post. Keita ran onto the ball and was challenged by the sliding Ugarte as he was about to shoot. The ball ricocheted off Keita and looped slowly, almost pitifully, over the stranded Tenas.
45+5’ – GOAL DISALLOWED! Senny Mayulu, just 17, equalises with a terrific goal! Clermont are angry because they thought Zague fouled Cham in the build-up, and it’s being checked by VAR. The ball broke to Mayulu, who lashed it into the bottom corner from 20 yards. But the referee has been sent to the monitor by VAR, and the goal has been disallowed.
60’ – HAKIMI HITS THE BAR! PSG are getting closer by the minute. The impressive Mayulu’s cross from the left is dummied by Ramos at the near post, allowing the ball to reach Hakimi behind him. He pokes an instinctive first-time shot that beats Ndiaye and thumps the underside of the bar.
71’ –RAMOS HITS THE BAR! A great chance for PSG goes begging. A short corner was worked to Hakimi, whose awkward long-range shot wasn’t held by Ndiaye. Ramos volleyed the rebound against the bar from six yards – he should have scored – and then Mbappe headed straight at Ndiaye.
86’ –GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Clermont Foot (Ramos) An equaliser of real class. Ramos drops deep to collect, moves forward and gives the ball to Mbappe on the edge of the D. He holds off a defender and plays a perfectly weighted return pass to Ramos, who stabbed an early shot past the keeper Ndiaye. That’s such a good goal.
Key stats
Read the full article here
