Nantes 3-1 PSG: Player ratings as wasteful Parisiens humbled in Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain have been brought back down to Earth hard by Nantes, who dished out a 3-1 defeat in Ligue 1 only days after a dominant Champions League performance against Real Madrid.

PSG, who were ultimately extremely wasteful on the night, really struggled with the pace of Moses Simon down Nantes’ left flank in the first half in particular. It was his speed on the counter-attack that resulted in Randal Kolo Muani slotting past Keylor Navas very early on.

The league leaders were stunned again less than 20 minutes in when Quentin Merlin doubled the lead, netting a top-corner drive for his first ever goal in senior football.

But PSG remained so naively over-exposed and by the half hour mark, Navas was having to intervene just to keep them it when he made a vital save to deny Simon.

At the other end of the pitch, Mauricio Pochettino’s side found themselves encountering a goalkeeper in top form. Alban Lafont repelled big chances for Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Idrissa Gueye all in the first half.

A red card shown to Nantes’ Dennis Appiah was correctly overruled shortly before half-time. VAR was then needed again to spot a handball from Georginio Wijnaldum, whose flailing arm blocked a goalward header. Ludovic Blas made no mistake from the spot.

It was less than 90 seconds after the restart when Neymar pulled one back, played in by Messi’s wonderful reverse pass. Mbappe had the chance to make it 3-2 not long after that, but Lafont returned to his role as chief frustrater.

Neymar ought to have reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Mbappe was cleaned out, but weakly rolled one of the worst spot kicks you’re ever likely to see almost straight at the goalkeeper. That appeared to give Nantes renewed belief just as PSG were starting to build momentum.

Mbappe could have had a hat-trick in a comfortable PSG win on another night but saw his latest chance go begging when the ball fell to him in front of goal and he fired high over the bar. Another Lafont save kept out substitute Julian Draxler but there was to be no way back.

PSG player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Keylor Navas (GK) - 5/10 - A big save after half an hour kept PSG in it but he was pretty powerless to prevent the goals flying in.

Thilo Kehrer (RB) - 4/10 - Had a nightmare trying to contain Moses Simon. Seemed to have more help in the second half as a result.

Marquinhos (CB) - 5/10 - A lack of pace was exposed for the first Nantes goal. Looked uneasy when Nantes players ran directly at him.

Presnel Kimpembe (CB) - 5/10 - Often left too exposed in the first half. Can't be faulted in possession.

Juan Bernat (LB) - 5/10 - Put off Kolo Muani just enough when it could have gone to 4-1 in Nantes' favour.

2. Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye (CM) - 5/10 - Extremely accurate with the ball and did more to help out defensively in the second half.

Marco Verratti (CM) - 6/10 - Gained more of a foothold after half-time and his passing was a driving force. Let his frustration get the better of him.

Georginio Wijnaldum (CM) - 4/10 - Punished for a flailing arm in first half stoppage time. Didn't make a positive impact to make up for it.

3. Forwards

Lionel Messi (RF) - 5/10 - Quiet in the first half but an inch-perfect reverse pass got PSG going immediately after the break. Didn't do enough.

Kylian Mbappe (ST) - 6/10 - Pace and direct running was an obvious threat all game. Denied by Lafont more than once but also skied a golden opportunity at a crucial time.

Neymar (LF) - 5/10 - First start after injury. Missed a glorious chance at 2-0 down but later pulled it back to 3-1. His penalty miss was appalling.

4. Substitutes

Julian Draxler (CM) - 5/10 - Slotted in and forced Lafont into a good save.

Angel Di Maria (RW) - 4/10 - Couldn't make the impact required. Picked up a frustrated booking for a cynical trip.

Achraf Hakimi (RB) - 5/10 - Supported the attack but no breakthrough.

Nuno Mendes (LB) - 6/10 - A naïve foul was among his first acts. Got forward better than Bernat had done.

Mauro Icardi (ST) - 3/10 - Did nothing.

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