PSG’s lackluster run in Ligue 1 continued as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Stade de Reims on Sunday. Despite fielding a star-studded lineup with Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe starting together for the first time this year, PSG struggled to break down a compact Reims defense in the opening half.
Just after the break, Neymar finally put the home side in front with a clinical finish, but their lead was short-lived as on-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun snatched a remarkable equalizer in the dying minutes of the match. PSG’s title hopes took a hit with this result, as they missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Reims extended their Ligue 1 unbeaten run to 12 games.
In the 51st minute, Neymar opened the scoring for PSG after Messi’s shot was deflected into his path, but the Italian midfielder Marco Verratti was shown a red card shortly after coming on as a substitute. On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun equalized for Reims six minutes into stoppage time, leaving PSG with a disappointing draw.
“Overall we obviously can’t be satisfied with our performance. It is not a question of being worried but we need to get back to winning ways quickly and play much more as a team than we are at the moment,” said PSG coach Christophe Galtier.
PSG now have 48 points from 20 games, with RC Lens on 45 and Olympique de Marseille on 43, making the Ligue 1 title race wide open. Reims, on the other hand, extended their unbeaten run to 12 games and sit 11th on 26 points.
Despite PSG’s dominance after Verratti’s sending off, they failed to secure a win and maintain their lead in the league. The loss of points is not only damaging to PSG’s title hopes but also surprising given their experienced squad.
“To concede a goal after 95 minutes with the number of experienced players we have—it is damaging for us in terms of the points dropped but it is also very surprising,” added Galtier.
In other Ligue 1 action, Olympique Lyonnais claimed a 2-0 win against AC Ajaccio for their first win in their last four league games. The victory was fueled by goals from Johann Lepenant and Alexandre Lacazette.
As the final whistle blew, tempers flared between the staff members of both sides, leading to a scuffle. With the Ligue 1 title race still up for grabs, PSG will be eager to get back to winning ways and reclaim their position at the top of the table.
PSG sets sights on adding Hakim Ziyech in its ranks
The Parisian giants, Paris Saint-Germain, have set their sights on adding Chelsea’s dazzling winger, Hakim Ziyech, to their ranks in a bid to bolster their attacking prowess. With the January transfer window ticking down to its final hours, the club is leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of the Moroccan magician.
Coach Christophe Galtier has publicly acknowledged the need for some reinforcements up front, and it seems Ziyech has risen to the top of PSG’s wish-list after a hectic search that had linked them to numerous wingers in the past week.
According to L’Equipe, negotiations to secure Ziyech’s services on loan are in the advanced stages. Will PSG be able to secure the deal and add Ziyech’s otherworldly dribbling skills to their attacking arsenal? Only time will tell.
