PSG draw again as Mbappe faces minutes restriction in Ligue 1

France Striker Kylian Mbappe entered the field in the 73rd minute and could not help PSG score another goal, in a 2-2 draw with Reims in round 25 of Ligue 1.

Just like the previous two rounds of Ligue 1, PSG only got one point after coach Luis Enrique limited Mbappe's playing time. The Spanish tactician replaced the French superstar when the team was behind in the 1-1 draw with Rennes, took Mbappe off after half-time in the 0-0 draw with Monaco, and only brought him on at the end of the match against Reims - when the score was 2-2.

Mbappe (No. 7) could not score against Reims at Parc des Princes on March 10. Photo: Reuters — Mbappe (No. 7) could not score against Reims at Parc des Princes on March 10. Photo: *Reuters*

Mbappe replaced Goncalo Ramos in the 73rd minute and had two chances to increase the score, but failed to finish with his stronger foot. There was too little time left for the 25-year-old superstar to make a big impact like in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Real Sociedad - a match where Mbappe scored twice to help PSG win 2-1.

The gap between PSG and the rest of Ligue 1 is safe enough for Enrique to let the French champions get used to life without Mbappe. Despite three consecutive draws, PSG is still 10 points ahead of second-placed Brest.

At the Parc des Princes, the home team fell behind early in the 7th minute, when Achraf Hakimi lost the ball in the penalty area, allowing Oumar Diakite to pass to Marshall Munetsi to open the scoring for Reims. The away team's joy only lasted 10 minutes, when Abdelhamid scored an own goal from a corner kick.

PSG continued their winning streak, increasing the score to 2-1 two minutes later, thanks to Goncalo Ramos, also from a messy play in the penalty area. But the home team could not end the first half with the advantage, when Oumar Diakite broke the offside trap after Emmanuel Agbadou's through ball, equalizing 2-2 in the 45th minute.

PSG had 10 shots in the second half, four of which were on target, but could not score. With a 2-2 draw, Enrique's team has 56 points after 25 rounds and is still firmly at the top of the table. Mbappe is still leading the scoring list with 21 goals, nine more than the chasing pack.

Line-up

PSG: Navas, Hakimi, Beraldo, Danilo Pereira (Nuno Mendes 70'), Lucas Hernandez, Soler (Dembele 73'), Ugarte, Zaire-Emery, Lee Kang In, Ramos (Mbappe 73'), Barcola (Muani 69')

Reims: Diouf, De Smet (Akieme 59'), Abdelhamid, Agbodou, Foket, Munetsi, Edoa (Richardson 72'), Daramy, Teuma (Khadra 83'), Ito (Stambouli 83'), Diakite.

Vy Anh

Source link