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PSG have extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points this weekend thanks to a battling 2-0 win away at Nice.
Christophe Galtier’s side were under pressure ahead of kickoff, after losing their last two league matches, but the evergreen Lionel Messi calmed any nerves with a composed early breakthrough.
However, it was not to be all plain sailing for the visitors, as Dante’s superb effort was inches away from equalising after the restart, and the defending champions were forced to hold on.
Italian star Gianluigi Donnarumma made a string of important stops, before Sergio Ramos eventually headed home his first goal of 2022/23 to clinch the victory, as PSG prepare to face second place Lens in Paris next weekend
MORE: Updated Ligue 1 top scorers
Nice vs PSG final score
1H
2H
Final
Nice
0
0
0
PSG
1
2
2
Goals:
Messi — PSG — 26th min
Ramos — PSG — 76th min
Confirmed lineups:
Nice (3-4-1-2): 1-Schmeichel (GK) — 25-Todibo, 4-Dante, 55-Ndayishimiye — 33-Mendy, 28-Boudaoui, 19-Thuram, 26-Bard — 16-Ramsey — 29-Pepe, 9-Moffi
PSG (3-5-2): 99-Donnarumma (GK) — 15-Danilo, 5-Marquinhos, 4-Ramos — 2-Hakimi, 17-Vitinha, 28-Soler, 18-Sanches, 25-Mendes — 30-Messi, 7-Mbappe
MORE: Ligue 1 top goal scorers 2022-2023: Updated golden boot table in France
Nice vs PSG: Key Highlights from Ligue 1 clash
90 mins: Three minutes added on as PSG play keep ball in midfield.
83 mins: The pace has completely dropped out of the tie now, with substitutions from both teams for the final minutes, as PSG look to stroll on to victory.
76 mins: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR PSG!!!!
Ramos clinches it for the defending champions!!
Just as Nice push for an equaliser, the two old El Clasico rivals combine, as Messi’s perfect corner is nodded home by Ramos for his first goal of the season!!!
*Video available in UK
Ramos rises ✨
Sergio Ramos marks his 50th appearance for PSG by doubling their lead 🔥
He loves celebrating with Hakimi 🐧 pic.twitter.com/c1GJ7gl6Ne
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 8, 2023
70 mins: Nice……..SOOOOO close to the equaliser!!!
Dante gets away from his marker, to flick on Pepe’s corner, but Donnarumma is there in the way again to keep PSG in front!!
65 mins: Ramos keeps causing problems in the opposition box as the veteran Spaniard shoots over the top!
Double change from Nice Pablo Rosario and Bilal Brahimi come on for Melvin Bard and Antoine Mendy.
60 mins: half chances at both ends as we hit the hour mark in Nice. Youssouf Ndayishimiye’s bouncing effort is clawed away by Donnarumma and Schmeichel gets a block on Ruiz’s scuffed strike.
55 mins: PSG have stood firm against the pressure of Nice at the start of the second period and Sergio Ramos gets up highest to head Messi’s free kick over the bar.
52 mins: Nice are still posing a threat here, as a scramble in the box calls Donnarumma into action AGAIN to deny Pepe.
Before another missed clearance presents Dante with a chance inside the box and his effort clatters off the bar and Marquinhos hoofs clear…….very close for Nice!
😱 This is how close Dante’s shot was to going in#OGCNice #OGCNPSG https://t.co/wAhh55G6a5
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) April 8, 2023
50 mins: No changes from either side at the break…..can PSG get the second goal to wrap this tie up?
46 mins: WE ARE BACK!!!
HALF TIME: NICE 0 PSG 1
The Ligue 1 leaders — and defending champions — are 1-0 up at the break in Nice thanks a sweetly taken goal by Lionel Messi.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 8, 2023
43 mins: So close for Nice….just before the break…..as Khéphren Thuram eases away from two PSG tackles and finds Pepe at the back post, but the Arsenal loanee is denied by the sprawling Donnarumma.
40 mins: An interesting battle is developing on the left hand side — Mbappe vs Todibo — certainly one to watch in the second half!
33 mins: Nice have reacted strongly to Messi’s slick finish, with a string of corners for the home side, but PSG are standing firm.
26 mins: GOALLLLLLLLLL…………….MESSI!!!
PSG’s early pressure finally pays off and it’s Messi with the breakthrough!!!!
Mendes is once again at the heart of it for PSG, as his driving run and clever pass frees Messi to swerve home a 14th Ligue 1 goal of the season!!!
*Video available in UK
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 8, 2023
22 mins: A BIG chance for PSG, as Mendes recycles a corner back into the box, and Danilo thumps a header against Schmeichel’s post!
20 mins: Nice now look to step up the intensity…..as Nicolas Pepe fires off target……and Terem Moffi forces a routine stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
15 mins: That positive start for PSG is quickly interrupted as Renato Sanches is down — and in some pain — with the Portuguese international quickly replaced by Fabian Ruiz.
10 | Nice 0-0 PSG: A distraught Renato Sanches is off with an injury within the first 10 minutes. He is replaced by Fabián Ruiz.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) April 8, 2023
11 mins: A very interested spectator at the Allianz Riviera tonight, as the cameras catch France head coach Didier Deschamps watching on intently.
10 mins: A busy start for PSG as Nuno Mendes lashes a volley high up into the stands.
5 mins: Messi is straight into the action for PSG, as he lines up an effort from 25 yards out, but it flashes just wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s post.
KICK OFF: NICE VS PSG……LET’S GO!!!!
We’re underway! ⚽️#OGCNPSG pic.twitter.com/OEjhd2uC69
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 8, 2023
15 mins from kickoff: Game No.400 for PSG captain Marquinhos tonight as the Brazilian continues his incredible consistency in Paris.
400 – Marquinhos will play his 400th game for Paris in all competitions, becoming the third player to reach this tally after Jean-Marc Pilorget (435) and Marco Verratti (409). Captain. #OGCNPSG pic.twitter.com/OrMfihPFfM
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) April 8, 2023
30 mins from kickoff: Galtier is back in Nice for the first time since his departure to PSG last summer……the visiting boss needs a win at his old club tonight
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) April 8, 2023
45 mins from kickoff: Galtier mirrors his opposite number with two starting changes, as Spanish pair Sergio Ramos and Carlos Soler come in for Marco Verratti and El Chadaille Bitshiabu…….Mbappe and Messi both start!!!
Voici notre 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 pour ce #OGCNPSG ! 🫡#Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/J5Mlf7elTn
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) April 8, 2023
1 hr from kickoff: Two changes from the home side, from last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Angers, as Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Hicham Boudaoui come into start and Pablo Rosario and Gaëtan Laborde drop to the bench.
The 1⃣1⃣ #OGCNice #OGCNPSG pic.twitter.com/hUgF7M3c2V
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) April 8, 2023
1 hr 30 mins from kickoff: The stage is set for a crucial night in PSG’s Ligue 1 title defence
🌞❤️🖤 Le soleil de la @VilledeNice est au rendez-vous du choc #OGCNPSG cette soirée à l’#AllianzRiviera ! pic.twitter.com/GfOirpFXnW
— Allianz Riviera (@AllianzRiviera) April 8, 2023
Nice vs PSG confirmed lineups
Interim Nice boss Didier Digard is without three first-team players through injury with Jordan Lotomba, Sofiane Diop and Youcef Atal all still ruled out. However, Premier League fans will recognise some key stars for the hosts, including Kasper Schmeichel, Aaron Ramsey, and Nicolas Pepe.
Nice starting lineup (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel (GK) — Todibo, Dante, Ndayishimiye — Mendy, Boudaoui Thuram, Bard — Ramsey — Pepe, Moffi
Nice subs: Bulka (GK), Amraoui, Belahyane, Rosario, Beka Beka, Brahimi, Barkley, Bouanani, Laborde
Marco Verratti has joined a growing injury list for Galtier, with Nordi Mukiele out until next month, and Presnel Kimpembe and Neymar Jr sidelined for
Source: Sporting News | Read More
