Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) bounced back from their recent poor form with a 2-0 victory over Nice on Saturday, with goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. Messi opened the scoring in the 26th minute, converting a cross from Nuno Mendes. Ramos then headed in a corner from Messi in the 76th minute, sealing the win for PSG. The victory restored their six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and eased the pressure on coach Christophe Galtier, who was previously under scrutiny after PSG’s consecutive home defeats.
PSG’s victory was crucial in the title race, especially after Lens closed the gap to just three points with a win on Friday. The victory against Nice means PSG is now six points clear at the top of the table. The win was a welcome relief for Galtier, who was formerly the manager of Nice last season. After the match, Galtier expressed his displeasure with a banner that was unfurled by the home supporters aimed at his mother.
The match was not without its moments of tension, with Dante being denied a goal via goal line technology before PSG’s second goal. The win came at a time when rumors were circulating that Messi was likely to leave PSG when his contract expires in the summer.
PSG dominated the match, with Danilo Pereira hitting the woodwork early on. However, they were also grateful for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made several important saves during the match. The win was especially impressive given that Nice had been on a 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions since January, with Didier Digard taking over as coach.
Meanwhile, bottom-placed Angers claimed their first Ligue 1 win since September with a 1-0 victory over Lille. Substitute Halid Sabanovic scored the only goal of the game, ending Angers’ 21-match winless run. The result means they will not match the French top-flight record for the most games without a win in a single season, currently held by Arles-Avignon who went 23 matches without a victory in 2010/11. However, they still remain seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and 12 away from safety with only eight games left.
PSG’s attention will now turn to their next match against Lens, who are currently in second place. With just a few games remaining, every point counts in the title race, and PSG will be hoping to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
