Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their latest Ligue 1 tite success with a 2-1 win away at Nice. Bradley Barcola’s stunning goal gave the new champions the lead before Yoram Zague added a second. Mohamed-Ali Cho pulled one back for Nice but the home side couldn’t find another as they miss out on Champions League qualification.
Paris Saint-Germain overcame Kylian Mbappe’s absence as they beat 10-man Nice 2-1 to close in on a Ligue 1 record.
The imminently departing Mbappe was absent through injury on Wednesday at Allianz Riviera, but PSG got the job done thanks to quick-fire first-half goals from Bradley Barcola and birthday boy Yoram Zague.
Nice had hit the post through Khephren Thuram early on, and they dragged themselves back into the contest when Mohamed-Ali Cho slammed home in the 32nd minute.
Jeremie Boga, Terem Moffi and substitute Gaetan Laborde went close to an equaliser, but Nice’s hopes of restoring parity took a blow when Melvin Bard saw red in the 75th minute.
Barcola struck the woodwork with a golden opportunity soon after, though champions PSG were not made to pay for that miss, and should they avoid defeat against Metz on Sunday, will become the first team in Ligue 1 history to go an entire campaign unbeaten on the road.
Thuram should have made PSG pay for some slack play in the fifth minute, only to hit the left-hand upright when one-on-one with Arnau Tenas.
Nice were left to lament that miss when Barcola steered home in the 18th minute after pouncing on Jordan Lotomba’s error and exchanging passes with Fabian Ruiz.
Barcola had Lotomba’s number again five minutes later, skipping beyond the full-back and cutting back for the onrushing Zague to tuck home to mark his 18th birthday in style.
Yet Nice were right back in when Boga brilliantly teed up Cho, whose strike could only be helped in by Tenas.
PSG were fortunate to go into half-time with their lead intact – Tenas denying Boga from close range before Marquinhos diverted Moffi’s goalbound effort wide.
Tenas’ sloppiness in possession might have cost PSG midway through the second half, yet Laborde let him off with a tame finish.
And Nice’s chances were dented soon after – Barcola drawing a rash foul from Bard, who was sent straight off by referee Ruddy Buquet, whose decision stood after a VAR check.
Barcola should have made sure of the points when he hit the post with the goal gaping, but PSG held firm as Nice’s slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dashed.
