Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe struggled in the final third as OGC Nice held PSG to a goalless draw at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Paris Saint-Germain’s run of four back to back victories in Ligue 1 was put to a halt as they played out a goalless draw with OGC Nice on Wednesday. The result should allow second-placed Marseille to close the gap at the top to nine points later in the campaign, as they do have a game in hand.
As for PSG, it was simply a disappointing evening. They had no issues dominating the possession and controlling the game for the most part. But they were often unable to get the better of the Nice defenders who remained resilient, offering very little space and time on the ball for the opposition attackers.
Les Parisiens attempted a total of 22 shots on goal, the majority of which came in the second half. Not to mention, only five of their attempts were on target, with most attackers appearing very wasteful in front of goal, including the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria. Lionel Messi also struggled to find his bearing, leading to a disappointing showing in the final third for the home side.
In response to the pressure, Nice did try to catch the opposition on the break. But they lacked the quality and the composure to make anything happen in the final third. As a result, both sides settled for a point, as PSG, in particular, continued their underwhelming performances against top teams. They have dropped points against all of the remaining teams in the top four in Nice, Marseille and Rennes.
Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will rank the PSG players following their disappointing draw with Nice this midweek.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: 7/10
Gianluigi Donnarumma was controversially awarded the Trophee Yachine ahead of Edouard Mendy. On Wednesday, he showcased his quality with a wonderful save to deny Nice an opener. He did not have to do too much otherwise, as the opposition only mustered two shots on target.
Messi presenting the #BallonDor & #Donnarumma presenting his award too. #PSGOGCN #psg #nice pic.twitter.com/5M4Sd6ifW0
— Md.Azizur Rahman (@azrman786) December 1, 2021
Achraf Hakimi: 6.5/10
Achraf Hakimi was involved in PSG’s offensive game, especially with his marauding runs forward. While he was active in the final third, he could not make much of an impact with the ball. He looked indecisive at times and failed to make good use of his opportunities.
Marquinhos: 7/10
Marquinhos remained strong at the heart of the backline. His dominance in aerial and physical duels, coupled with his composure and leadership, were vital in helping PSG keep out the Nice attackers for the most part. He is indeed an indispensable figure in this PSG unit.
Presnel Kimpembe: 7/10
Starting ahead of Sergio Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe offered optimum defensive support for Marquinhos at the heart of the PSG defence. His aggression was useful in closing down the Nice attackers, resulting in a quiet game for both Andy Delort and Kasper Dolberg. He picked up a knock late in the game, and the PSG fans will be hoping it is not too serious.
Nuno Mendes: 6/10
Much like Hakimi, Nuno Mendes was involved in the game with his forays into the final third. However, he was simply not incisive enough to cause any real problems for the Nice defence. The young full-back certainly has a lot of potential, but he is yet to showcase it with his performances for PSG so far.
Sur son crâne la prochaine fois s'il te plaît Nuno Mendes pic.twitter.com/o1rjCyi4yy
— ً (@JoestarOG) December 1, 2021
Idrissa Gueye: 6/10
Idrissa Gueye did well to control the game for PSG. He offered security in possession and had a key role to play in ball distribution. That said, the former Everton midfielder did not make the desired impact with his attacking contributions, often struggling to offer the creativity in the middle of the park.
Danilo Pereira: 6.5/10
Operating in the holding midfield role, Danilo Pereira held the fort well. He was useful in PSG’s second line of press, as he recovered multiple balls and broke up potential counter-attacking opportunities for his team.
Eric Ebimbe: 5.5/10
Eric Ebimbe struggled to make any impression in this rare starting opportunity. He looked the most inspired PSG midfielder in the final third, but he failed to provide the desired incision and was caught out in possession on one or two occasions.
Angel Di Maria: 6/10
Filling in for the injured Neymar, Angel Di Maria tried his best to offer the creative essence in the final third. Unfortunately for him, though, he was defended very well by the Nice defenders, who offered him very little space and time on the ball. It resulted in a frustrating evening for the Argentine, as most of his attempts failed to find the target.
Lionel Messi: 6/10
Heading into this game on the back of a seventh Ballon d’Or, it was a disappointing performance from Lionel Messi. He was unable to add that spark in the final third and was defended rather expertly by Christophe Galtier’s men. The Argentine was more influential in the second half, but it was not enough to change the complexion of the game.
No goals or assists for Messi tonight as PSG fail to breakdown Nice in a goalless draw.
It's 1 goal in 8 Ligue 1 appearances now for Messi – interestingly he also scored 1 open play goal in his opening 8 La Liga games last season before his finishing started to click. pic.twitter.com/GXwgWHZOOg
— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) December 1, 2021
Kylian Mbappe: 5/10
Kylian Mbappe was perhaps the most underwhelming attacker for PSG in this game. Starting on the left flank, the Frenchman made incisive runs forward and caused trouble for the Nice defenders. However, he was extremely wasteful in front of goal, squandering at least two goalscoring opportunities. Mbappe has been missing a lot of chances lately, which could be a cause for concern for Mauricio Pochettino.
SUBSTITUTES
Marco Verratti: 6/10
Marco Verratti replaced Ebimbe around the hour mark, hoping to add that creative substance in the PSG midfield. Although the Italian failed to make the desired impact, his return will be a boost for the home side.
Mauro Icardi: N/A
A late replacement for Di Maria. He did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Leandro Paredes: N/A
A late replacement for the injured Kimpembe. He did not play enough to warrant a rating.
