For a night that saw a major chapter in the club’s history come to an end – Marco Verratti waving goodbye after 11 years at the club – there was an air of familiarity in the way PSG were dismantled on Friday, for matchday five’s opener. An ambitious Nice side, led by a mercurial Terem Moffi, would inflict a first defeat of the season on the champions, and officially ring the end of Luis Enrique’s honeymoon period.
Nice showed why they were still unbeaten so far this season. Relentless spells of pressing from Farioli’s men caught the hosts off guard on several occasions – not least Donnarumma, who looked as shaky as ever with the ball at his feet. One of those passages would be the catalyst for the opener, as Todibo swiped the ball from Mbappé, and got a shot away on the edge of the box – the shot would be blocked and fall to the feet of Terem Moffi, who sweeped it into the bottom corner from close range.
The champions’ response would come minutes later through Mbappé. The captain would first see Ousmane Dembélé squander opportunity he’d set up with a through ball by fluffing his one-on-one with Bułka. Seconds later, though, he sent a sweeping finish into the top corner from the edge of the box – the Polish goalkeeper getting a hand to the shot but unable to apply enough pressure to parry it away.
Nice would be back ahead soon after the break, as Moffi was found over the top after a deep run, the Nigerian breezing past Danilo Pereira before squaring it to Laborde for an open-goal finish. The visitors came close to doubling their lead seconds later – Laborde this time setting up a wide open Diop, whose shot was kept out by an impressive reflex save.
Les Aiglons would swoop into the box several more times – Moffi once again devastating for the third goal, as another deep run stretched PSG’s defence to breaking point. With both Hernandez and Škriniar struggling to keep up, he duly cut inside and fired home into the bottom corner for his second of the evening.
Despite bringing on several attacking threats – Randal Kolo Muani notably making his debut – Luis Enrique’s men were unable to thread a way through a serene Nice defence. The visitors, on the other hand, threatened with every counter. It would take a volleyed effort from Mbappé to halve the deficit and offer the Parisians a lifeline, Kolo Muani with the assist – a familiar combination for France fans. Les Aiglons would hold out in any case – and in doing so, leapfrog tonight’s opponents into second place. Far from encouraging for PSG, ahead of next Tuesday’s reception of Borussia Dortmund.
PSG player ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma, 4 – Just about survived some early scares with the ball at his feet and Nice forwards bearing down on him – but the Italian is patently uncomfortable in playing out from the back. Was mostly faultless for the goals and pulled out a good stop from Diop to prevent the scoreline from looking even more damning.
Achraf Hakimi, 5
Danilo Pereira, 6 – PSG’s best defender, his perseverence and commitment in winning the ball back as always earning plaudits from the home fans – but he was convincingly beaten by Moffi for the third goal.
Milan Škriniar, 4
Lucas Hernandez, 5
Carlos Soler, 3
Vitinha, 4
Warren Zaïre-Emery, 4
Ousmane Dembélé, 3 – Barring a few successful takeons, the Frenchman was as ineffectual as he has been since the start of his time in the capital. A one-on-one chance sent spectacularly wide and virtually no duels won nor crosses completed made for a difficult watch.
Gonçalo Ramos, 3 – The Portuguese international is yet to score for his new club, and scarcely looked like he could break his duck tonight – a first-half header that went wide his only chance of the game, otherwise barely involved.
Kylian Mbappé, 7 – At his incisive best during the first half; a mere passenger after the break. His well-taken equaliser looked to have set the hosts back on track, but ultimately he too was a victim to Nice’s unforgiving press, and was mostly kept out of the game afterwards. He struck late on with a great volley for his second, which was of no consequence on the result.
Nice player ratings,
Marcin Bułka, 6
Jordan Lotomba, 6
Jean-Clair Todibo, 7
Dante, 6
Melvin Bard, 6
Morgan Sanson, 5
Youssouf Ndayishimiye, 6
Khéphren Thuram, 7
Gaëtan Laborde, 6 – Not as clinical as his attacking partner, but a nonetheless industrious performance from the versatile forward, who scored Nice’s second goal of the game at the back post.
Terem Moffi, 9 – Two goals and an assist for the Nigerian. His deep runs – consistently found by his teammates – proved to be PSG’s undoing, and his devastating accuracy made sure Nice made the most of their counter attacks.
Sofiane Diop, 6
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
