Nice 0-2 PSG: Player ratings as Messi & Ramos strike to seal unconvincing victory
By Tom Gott
Paris Saint-Germain snapped out of their losing streak in unconvincing fashion as they held on to secure a 2-0 win over Nice on Saturday.
Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos both scored either side of half time but PSG had to weather an almighty storm and relied on the goalkeeping expertise of the sensational Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep them ahead.
The now-predictable whistles towards PSG drowned out the referee's own but Messi nearly had fans cheering soon after as he drove narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Nicolas Pepe and Kephren Thuram responded with long-range strikes of their own, but the first real danger came from a Danilo Pereira header which came crashing back off the Nice post.
PSG stepped things up and soon took the lead as Messi found some space in the box to stroke home a cross from the lively Nuno Mendes 26 minutes in.
That goal took the edge out of Nice's attack but Pepe nearly snatched an equaliser shortly before the break. The Arsenal loanee found himself through on goal but an excellent save from Gianluigi Donnarumma kept PSG ahead, shortly before the Italian stopper was needed to keep out a Terem Moffi header.
Nice continued to push after the break and came inches away from an equaliser. Dante struck a half-volley from a corner which bounced on the goal-line and away - technology confirmed it could hardly have been closer to crossing the line - before Pepe fizzed a strike of his own which drew another save from Donnarumma.
The visitors really struggled to keep up until the hour mark, relying on some magic from Donnarumma to keep them ahead as Nice continued to rack up the shots on goal.
Against the run of play, PSG bagged a second goal. Ramos rose highest from a corner and the outcome was never in any doubt as the Spaniard powered his header into the back of the net with 14 minutes to go.
Nice were nearly gifted a route back into the game late on as Danilo deflected a cross onto his own crossbar, but PSG held on in the nervy finale to escape with all three points.
There was even a chance for a third goal for PSG. Kylian Mbappe found a glimpse of goal in stoppage time but sent his strike blazing well over the bar, summing up his disappointing evening.
Nice player ratings (5-4-1)
GK: Kasper Schmeichel (5); RB: Antoine Mendy (6); CB: Jean-Clair Todibo (6); CB: Youssouf Ndayishimiye (6); CB: Dante (7); LB: Melvin Bard (6); RM: Nicolas Pepe (7); CM: Hicham Boudaoui (7); CM: Aaron Ramsey (7); LM: Khephren Thuram (7); ST: Terem Moffi (6)
Substitutes: Billal Brahimi (7), Pablo Rosario (6), Gaetan Laborde (6), Badredine Bouanani (N/A), Ross Barkley (N/A)
PSG player ratings (3-5-2)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 9/10 - Some really impressive saves late in the first half and early in the second as Nice tried to force their way back into proceedings. An absolute wall as he racked up seven saves.
CB: Danilo Pereira - 7/10 - A big threat in the opposition penalty area and impressive in his own, making an excellent block to deny Pepe late in the first half. Headed against his own crossbar late on.
CB: Marquinhos - 5/10 - Marked his 400th appearance for PSG with a disappointing showing. Felt out of tune with his teammates.
CB: Sergio Ramos - 6/10 - A little uncomfortable when Moffi and Pepe started running at him but leapt highest to get his goal.
RM: Achraf Hakimi - 5/10 - Not his finest performance. Hakimi was quiet in attack and didn't enjoy his battle with Thuram in defence.
CM: Vitinha - 5/10 - The occasional glimpse of his early season form but nowhere near enough. Offered no defensive help, allowing Nice to glide through the midfield.
CM: Renato Sanches - N/A - Pulled up with a groin injury after ten minutes.
CM: Carlos Soler - 5/10 - Tried to stretch PSG's midfield but that just left gaps for Nice to exploit.
LM: Nuno Mendes - 7/10 - A major threat down the left. Deserved an assist for Danilo's header but secured one soon after.
ST: Lionel Messi - 6/10 - Took his goal well but was otherwise quite quiet.
ST: Kylian Mbappe - 3/10 - Pretty anonymous stuff from Mbappe. Did nothing until he blazed over the bar from close range in second half stoppage time.
Substitutes
Fabian Ruiz (10' for Sanches) - 5/10 - Didn't do enough at either end of the field.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu (77' for Mendes) - 6/10
Warren Zaire-Emery (89' for Soler) - N/A
Manager
Christophe Galtier - 5/10 - Injuries to key players have to be taken into account but Galtier failed to find a way to make up for those key absences. Nice were comfortably the better side here.