PSG drop points again in draw with Reims

Reims’ Moroccan French midfielder #08 Amir Richardson fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade de Reims at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 10, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Paris Saint-Germain were held 2-2 by Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a third straight domestic draw which still allowed the reigning champions to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.

Kylian Mbappe was rested at kick-off after scoring both goals in PSG’s 2-1 midweek win at Real Sociedad which saw them qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate.

A Paris side showing six changes from that game fell behind in the seventh minute when Achraf Hakimi was dispossessed inside his own box, allowing Oumar Diakite to set up Zimbabwe international Marshall Munetsi to score.

However, PSG — with the names on the back of their shirts written in Korean to mark the opening of a new club shop in Seoul — drew level in the 17th minute.

Reims captain Yunis Abdelhamid scored an unfortunate own goal as he turned Hakimi’s corner into the net under pressure from Goncalo Ramos.

Portugal striker Ramos then put PSG ahead two minutes later with his ninth goal of the season, finding the net with a deflected shot after the Reims defence had failed to deal with a Lee Kang-in cross.

Yet Will Still’s Reims, who sit in mid-table, came back to equalise on the stroke of half-time when Emmanuel Agbadou picked out Diakite with a superb defence-splitting pass, and the young Ivory Coast striker beat PSG’s stand-in goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a clinical finish.

PSG coach Luis Enrique sent on Mbappe in the 73rd minute, with