Kylian Mbappe assisted Goncalo Ramos’ late goal as PSG fought back for a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Clermont Foot.
♦ Ramos’ late goal rescues point against Clermont Foot
♦ PSG rotated heavily with Champions League looming
♦ Mbappe provided an assist in 30 minute cameo
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Clermont Foot took the lead after 30 minutes, Habib Keita’s deflected strike looping over reserve goalkeeper Arnau Tenas and into the net. The Parisians thought they had an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but debutant Senny Mayulu’s fine strike was ruled out for a foul in the build up. They eventually got their equaliser late on, with Mbappe setting up Ramos for a neat finish in the 86th minute to snag an unremarkable draw at Parc des Princes.
THE MVP
Goncalo Ramos is starting to make it work. After a miserable opening to life in Paris, the Portuguese forward is looking more comfortable in the capital. He has made the most of his reserve minutes, and found the net here – a neat equaliser to rescue what would have been an embarrassing result. In truth, he perhaps should have ended the night with more; Ramos hit the woodwork multiple times. Still, he did enough to earn a draw, when a loss would have been mortifying.
THE BIG LOSER
It seems that every time Mbappe misses a game, another Parisian forward has a chance to show his quality. For some, such as Bradley Barcola, those opportunities have been seized with aplomb. For others, it hasn’t been so easy. Such was the case for Randal Kolo Muani on Saturday evening. The French forward had little impact on the game in his 67 minutes of work, putting two shots on goal but registering little else in his chance to impress. He simply hasn’t done enough to suggest he should be a regular in Paris.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
This was a much-changed PSG side, which might make sense given the fixture coming up. The Parisians face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Mbappe and co. seem certain to return to the fray from the start for that one.
