Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faced their first defeat of the Ligue 1 season despite Kylian Mbappe’s exceptional performance, netting twice. The French champions were outplayed by a formidable Nice side, who secured a 3-2 victory at the Parc des Princes on Friday, with Terem Moffi delivering a standout performance with two goals.
The match got off to a shocking start for PSG as they fell behind midway through the first half. Moffi capitalized on a costly mistake by Mbappe, seizing the opportunity to find the net. However, the prolific French striker redeemed himself with a goal on the half-hour mark.
After the break, Gaetan Laborde restored Nice’s lead just eight minutes into the second half, leaving PSG with an uphill battle. Moffi further exacerbated PSG’s woes by adding another goal to the scoreboard.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Mbappe displayed his brilliance by volleying home a goal, giving PSG a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately for the reigning French champions, Nice managed to hold on to their lead, securing the victory.
The defeat marked a significant setback for PSG, who had the opportunity to claim the top spot with three points. Instead, they slipped to third place in the early table standings, with eight points from five games. Nice, on the other hand, remained undefeated and climbed the ranks with this impressive win.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s head coach, expressed his thoughts after suffering his first loss with the team, acknowledging the superior freshness of the opposing side. While a defeat is never easy to swallow, Enrique emphasized the need for improvement and praised his team’s spirit.
The match also featured a touching farewell to Marco Verratti, who bid farewell to PSG after an illustrious 11-year tenure with the club. Messages from former teammates, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, were displayed on the big screen, and Verratti was given a lap of honor around the pitch.
Despite the emotional farewell, Nice took the lead in the 21st minute, taking advantage of PSG’s defensive lapse. Moffi capitalized on a mistake by Mbappe, and his deflected shot found the back of the net.
Mbappe quickly made amends by scoring his sixth league goal of the season, but PSG struggled defensively. Nice had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Jordan Lotomba’s attempt sailed over the bar.
Nice regained their advantage in the 53rd minute when Moffi set up Laborde for a well-executed finish. Moffi added another goal to his tally, all but sealing the game with a precise low strike from outside the area.
Mbappe’s acrobatic volley provided PSG with a lifeline, but Nice successfully held on in the closing moments.
The defeat now presents a challenge for PSG to regroup before their Champions League group-stage opener against Borussia Dortmund scheduled for Tuesday.
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