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PSG title defence threatened by blunders and break-ins
PARIS, March 19, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain head to Lyon on
Sunday for a pivotal game in the Ligue 1 title race with Mauricio
Pochettino’s side having been thrown off course by poor performances and off-
field troubles.
PSG were stunned at home by struggling Nantes last weekend, a 2-1 defeat at
the Parc des Princes condemning the reigning champions to back-to-back home
league losses for the first time since November 2012.
They could have gone top of the table with a win, but instead they remain
second with nine games remaining, three points behind leaders Lille and ahead
of third-placed Lyon on goal difference.
The Nantes defeat was overshadowed by the news that two PSG players, Angel
Di Maria and Marquinhos, were the victims of break-ins during the game
itself.
Di Maria was substituted after it emerged his home in the upmarket Paris
suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine had been burgled while his family were there.
Meanwhile, the family home of Marquinhos was also burgled in another Paris
suburb while his father and two sisters were present.
“What happened has affected everybody,” admitted Pochettino.
“Everyone took it as though it had happened to them personally. We don’t
know how things might have gone had these incidents not occurred, but Angel
is fine and so is ‘Marqui’.”
Di Maria previously admitted that an attempted robbery on his family’s home
during his one year at Manchester United, in 2014/15, had left him keen to
leave England.
However, the 33-year-old has been settled in France and only last week
signed a contract extension to keep him at PSG until the end of next season.
“My family and I are very happy here and nothing will wipe the smiles from
our faces,” he wrote on Instagram this week.
PSG’s form is concerning, however.
They are through to the Champions League quarter-finals but performed
poorly in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Barcelona. Not helped
by injuries or coronavirus infections in his squad, Pochettino has lost three
of his first 12 Ligue 1 games.
“Despite everything I am extremely positive,” he said this week.
“We are in a good position in Ligue 1 and we are lucky to still have our
fate in our own hands in all competitions.”
His comments came before PSG beat Lille 3-0 in the last 16 of the French
Cup in midweek with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to make up for an error in
gifting one goal to Nantes.
The next two league games are crucial, with Sunday’s game in Lyon followed
by a home clash with leaders Lille immediately after the international break.
Player to watch: Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta will have a big part to play if Lyon are to get the better of PSG.
The 23-year-old Brazil midfielder was outstanding when Rudi Garcia’s team won
in Paris in December and his arrival from AC Milan for 20 million euros
($23.9m) at the start of the season has been key to making Lyon title
contenders.
The left-footed playmaker — who was brought to Milan by Leonardo, now
PSG’s sporting director — had scored three goals in four league games before
being sent off in the 1-1 draw at Marseille late last month. He returned from
suspension last weekend at Reims and will start against the reigning
champions on Sunday.
Key stats
9 – Neymar has not featured in any of PSG’s last nine games as he recovers
fitness following his latest injury.
5 – Lyon have beaten PSG five times in Ligue 1 since the start of 2011/12,
more than any other team has managed against the capital club under Qatari
ownership.
3 – Jorge Sampaoli can become the first Marseille coach to win his first
three Ligue 1 games in charge since Elie Baup in 2012 if his side beat Nice.
Fixtures (Kick-offs GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Monaco (2000)
Saturday
Metz v Rennes (1200), Nice v Marseille (1600)
Sunday
Strasbourg v Lens (1200), Brest v Angers, Dijon v Reims, Montpellier v
Bordeaux, Nantes v Lorient (all 1400), Lille v Nimes (1605), Lyon v Paris
Saint-Germain (2000)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0906 hrs