A dramatic win came for Paris St Germain as Kolo Muani scored late to secure a 2-1 victory over Nantes. This win puts PSG six points clear of second-placed Monaco in Ligue 1, just ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.
Nantes, who had previously secured a triumphant 1-0 win over Nice, gave PSG a run for their money in new coach Jocelyn Gourvennec’s first official game in charge, with Mostafa Mohamed canceling out Bradley Barcola’s fine opener. But in the end, it was PSG who walked away with the win.
With first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma suspended, and potential replacements Keylor Navas and Alexandre Letellier injured, PSG coach Luis Enrique handed 22-year-old Arnau Tenas his first start in goal. Additionally, skipper Marquinhos made a return from injury, bolstering the PSG defense.
Kylian Mbappe, who received on-pitch treatment after feeling discomfort during the warm-up, proved his fitness by forcing a save from Nantes keeper Alban Lafont within the first 20 seconds of the game. However, PSG struggled to carve out genuine chances against Nantes’ organized defense.
Nantes also had their opportunities, with a fingertip save by Tenas keeping out Florent Mollet’s 15th-minute shot. However, it was Bradley Barcola who broke the deadlock for PSG four minutes before the break, exchanging passes with Vitinha and slotting the ball past Lafont.
Nantes struck back with Mostafa Mohamed heading in a powerful goal from Mollet’s corner in the 54th minute. This led to a tense battle with both teams hungry for a win. Kolo Muani made the difference, stabbing home a rebound just seven minutes before the final whistle, securing a hard-fought win for PSG.
With Nantes pushing for an equalizer, PSG held on to their lead to secure their eighth successive Ligue 1 win, leaving them in a strong position ahead of their Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. This win will give PSG a boost of confidence as they prepare for their European challenge.