Draw helps PSG maintain unbeaten run

Paris Saint-Germain was held to a 1-1 draw at Nantes in a rearranged Ligue 1 game on Tuesday, a result which maintains its unbeaten domestic record this season, with the Champions League semifinal against Arsenal on the horizon.

It looked like Vitinha's first-half strike might be enough for PSG, which has already secured a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, to leave the Stade de La Beaujoire with the victory.

However, Nantes hit back to equalize with six minutes remaining through its Brazilian midfielder Douglas Augusto, earning the host a precious point in its battle for survival.

PSG might still have won the game at the death, but a header by substitute Goncalo Ramos from a Desire Doue cross came back off the crossbar.

Nevertheless, the draw means it has still not lost a game against domestic opposition since May last year, and leaves it just four Ligue 1 matches away from becoming the first team ever to complete a French top-flight campaign without losing.

The closest a team has ever come to doing that remains Nantes, which went undefeated through its first 32 matches, before suffering its only loss on the way to becoming champion in 1994-95.

The result also allowed Paris to extend its run without losing away from home in Ligue 1 to 39 matches since February 2023 — AC Milan's run of 38 away games unbeaten in Serie A between 1991 and 1993 was previously the record in Europe's leading leagues.

"Today is a special day for us, beating AC Milan's record. I congratulate my players for that," said PSG coach Luis Enrique.

He saw Vitinha fire in first-time on the half-volley just inside the penalty box for the opener shortly after the half-hour mark.

Joao Neves was denied by Patrik Carlgren as the visitor threatened to increase its lead before the interval, but PSG did not create a huge number of chances despite controlling possession throughout.

Nantes might have equalized sooner, with Jean-Charles Castelletto's low shot destined for the far corner, only to be denied by a fine Gianluigi Donnarumma save.

Augusto then fired in the late equalizer, after a lung-bursting run from Matthis Abline, bringing the more than 34,000 home fans in the crowd to their feet.

Nantes is now four points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play, and three of its remaining matches will be at home.

AFP