PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain drew 2-2 at home against Lorient on Saturday to give rival Lens a glimmer of hope in the Ligue 1 title race.
A win for second-place Lens at Nice later Saturday would cut PSG’s lead to four points with three games remaining, with Lens hosting PSG on May 13.
PSG beat Bayern Munich 5-4 earlier this week in a pulsating Champions League semifinal match, and coach Luis Enrique rested goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, midfielder Vitinha and defender Nuno Mendes ahead of Wednesday’s return leg in Germany. Star forward Ousmane Dembélé was on the bench with midfielders Joao Neves and Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Teenage forward Ibrahim Mbaye put PSG ahead from close range in the sixth minute when goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo fumbled a cross straight onto him. Poor defending allowed Pablo Pagis to equalize six minutes later with a neat volley past 19-year-old backup goalie Renato Marin.
Zaïre-Emery scored immediately after coming in the 62nd with a slightly deflected strike from 20 meters. PSG academy striker Pierre Mounguengue then came on for his first-team debut only to give the ball away with a back pass. It was intercepted by Benin striker Aiyegun Tosin, who raced clear and scored with a low shot in off the post in the 77th.
Marseille’s slump continues
Marseille’s chaotic season continued with a 3-0 loss at next-to-last Nantes. A fourth defeat in six games dented sixth-place Marseille’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, with only the top three advancing directly.
Marseille will drop to seventh if Monaco wins at last-place Metz later Saturday. Paul Pogba was picked in midfield for Monaco, giving the former France star his first league start since 2023 with Juventus.
Nantes kept alive its slim hopes of avoiding being relegated for the first time since 2009. Victory moved Nantes two points behind Auxerre in 16th position, which is the relegation-promotion spot with the side finishing third in Ligue 2.
The Nantes forward line clicked as Ignatius Ganago, former Marseille winger Rémy Cabella and Matthis Abline all scored. ___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press
