Paris Saint-Germain have won their fifth competitive match in a row: In the 2-0 win at Nantes, ex-Munich man Hernandez in particular had the special pleasure of scoring a Ligue 1 goal
PSG are rushing from victory to victory in Ligue 1 and are getting ever closer to their twelfth league title. After beating Real Sociedad 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, coach Luis Enrique’s team also won the away game in Nantes. However, the bench was initially more prominent than the starting eleven, with Mbappé, Dembelé and co. just sitting out.
Kolo Muani – hardly in the game on his return to Nantes – and his attacking colleagues lacked penetration in the first period. It was only a diagonal ball in the 44th minute that woke the game up: Hernandez failed to find Kolo Muani, however, as Pallois made a point-blank save.
On the counter-attack, Hernandez rushed back to save from Douglas Augusto, who was ready to shoot (45′). Nantes stayed in contention: captain Marquinhos made a sensational save on the line for Donnarumma, who was already beaten – Wolfsburg loanee Cozza was unable to get past the Brazilian (45.+2). Suddenly the ball was in the PSG goal, but a Pallois volley was disallowed for offside, much to the annoyance of the hosts (45.+3).
Mbappé immediately in focus – and pleased
After the break, the game became increasingly heated – and very special for Hernandez. At the age of 28, the former Munich man scored his first ever Ligue 1 goal with a shot from distance that was deflected by Sissoko (60′). Immediately afterwards, Luis Enrique brought quality off the bench with Dembelé, Mbappé and Hakimi. As Mostafa Mohamed failed to beat Donnarumma from an acute angle (70′), Mbappé was allowed to decide the match
After a leg kick, Mbappé was felled by Douglas Augusto in the penalty area. The Frenchman, who will leave the club in the summer, converted the subsequent spot-kick with ice-cold precision – his 21st league goal in 20 games (78′). Nantes wanted to respond immediately, but luck was not on the side of the home side either: Chirivella was denied by Donnarumma and the post (80′).
After an exhausting English week, PSG now have until February 25 to lick their wounds – then the home game against Stade Rennes is on the agenda. Before the CL second leg in San Sebastian (March 5), duels with Nice (home, Coupe de France) and Monaco (away, March 1) await
