Ligue 1, 19th day – Without Mbappé, PSG saved by Mauro Icardi against Lorient (1-1)

Lorient has cause for terrible regrets. Once again miraculous, Paris Saint-Germain snatched the point of the draw thanks to a saving header from Mauro Icardi during added time (1-1). Because before that, Mauricio Pochettino’s men had come up against a very fine Lorient team as solid defensively as they were dangerous on the counter-attack, which led to the opening of the scoring for Thomas Monconduit in the first period. A cruel disillusionment for the 19th in the championship during this last match of the year 2021. PSG keeps 13 points ahead of its runner-up, Nice, halfway through. But he invariably struggles to convince.

Dangerous from the kick-off, the start of the match for Paris Saint-Germain was nothing but a snub. If the Parisians almost opened the scoring during their first attempt that Mauro Icardi spoiled for a few centimeters (2nd), they did not show anything. Without Kylian Mbappé, suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, the autumn champions have completely fallen into their pitfalls, offering an almost nonexistent game play to allow Lorient to believe in a great feat.

The PSG of the bad days

It must be said that the Hakes could not have dreamed of better. Unable to play vertically, their opponents also seemed to take their counterattacks lightly. Thrown behind the defense, Terem Moffi spoiled his first face-to-face with Keylor Navas (11th) before Ouattara, who thought he had a duel in turn, stumbled over the superb return of Marquinhos (12th). Faced with this friability, Lorient applied to defend well to afford beautiful transitions. But Keylor Navas totally disgusted Moffi by stopping his vicious lobed ball (16th).

Faced with the ridiculous situation, Lionel Messi tried to put on his savior costume, but his control-strike sequence from the left crashed into the upright of Nardi (26th). Without ever succeeding in obtaining the slightest shot on target in the first period (despite 80% possession), PSG had what it deserved, at the worst of times. Following a loss of ball from Ander Herrera, Moffi perfectly shifted Thomas Monconduit at the entrance to the surface so that the latter fires a missile in the top corner and opens the scoring just before returning to the locker room (1- 0, 41e).

Icardi saves the furniture

“1-0 or 0-0, our game plan will remain the same in the second half: we will continue with our low block and play the transitions thoroughly”. Interviewed at the microphone of Canal +, the Lorient striker announced the color. But by wanting to defend too much, the Lorientans forgot to take shelter. With the ball exclusively in their feet, the Parisians have never stopped pushing in order to go on vacation with the feeling of a job well done. But Angel Di Maria wasted a goal almost given by Lionel Messi by missing the target at close range (56th) before Wijnaldum and the reigning Ballon d’Or imitate him a few minutes later.

Then the match was over in a minute. While Lionel Messi had just seen a superb curled strike from the left being returned at the last minute by Nardi, Sergio Ramos received two yellow cards in quick succession. First for an uncontrolled tackle in the offensive phase (81st), before illegally cutting off a counter-attack from Enzo Le Fée (83rd). At eleven against ten, the Lorientais still left the ball to their opponents, who, by pushing, snatched the point of the draw thanks to a pricked header from Mauro Icardi, well served by Achraf Hakimi at the very end. of regular time (1-1, 90th + 1).

A painful scenario for the Merlus, who had the opportunity to offer a nice gift to their supporters to end this year 2021 in the most beautiful way. Instead, the formation of Christophe Pélissier ends this first leg of Ligue 1 in the skin of the second relegation, with four small points ahead of the red lantern, Saint-Etienne. As for PSG, with 13 points ahead of its Nice dolphin, the title already seems to be reaching out to it.