French Captain Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score from the penalty spot and give PSG a comfortable 2-0 win against Nantes away from home. The French Champions extend their lead at the top of the table with 14 points clear of second place Nice.
After a resounding 2-0 win in the second half of Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League game against Real Sociedad, Luiz Enrique’s team came into the game at the Stade de la Beaujoire to extend their lead on the League 1 Table. His half-time talks seem to have done the magic again, clinching yet another victory in the second half.
FC Nantes were the better team in the first half, registering five total shots, two more of PSG’s attempts. They were more organized defensively and made more recoveries. Marquinhos blocked N.Cozza’s shot to an unguarded post in the 45th minute to keep the scores leveled. FC Nantes’s efforts seemed to have paid off when Nicolas Pallois’ volley found the back of the net in the stoppage time of the first half, but a VAR check waved off the goal for offside. It would be the only offside registered throughout the game.
Paris Saint-German improved offensively in the second half, creating more chances and registering more shots. They dominated the possession and got their first goal just at the hour mark. Lucas Hernandez’s strike from outside the box deflected off Moussa Sissoko and found its way to the back of the net to give PSG the lead. Mostafa Mohammed kept getting FC Nantes into dangerous positions and was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma in his closest attempt at goal. Kylian Mbappe replaced Marco Asensio in the 62nd minute. He was brought down by Douglas in the box, winning and converting a 78th-minute penalty to clutch the win for Les Parisiens. Mbappe previously missed from the Spot-kick in their victory against Strasbourg on February 2, 2024.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the standout performer in the match. He made six saves to keep PSG in the game and added another clean sheet to his tally. PSG had only two shots on target, and both were enough to win the game. They now sit 14 points clear of second place Nice in the League 1 table. FC Nantes is in 13th place with only 22 points from 22 games.
Although on the losing side, Nicolas Pallois won the Man of the Match Award. His performance at FC Nantes’s defense and quick offensive plays were core reasons for this. He first tried to break the deadlock from 35 yards out, forcing Donnarumma to tip over his attempt. The 37-year-old center-half played a crucial role in keeping PSG at bay with ten clearances and two blocks while winning all three duels he contested.
Mbappe’s Future at PSG Decided
Kylian Mbappe has informed Nasser Al-Khelaifi of his decision to leave Paris Saint-German at the end of the season when his contract with the French Champions expires in June 2024.
Since arriving from Monaco in 2017, Kylian Mbappe has been key to PSG’s dominance in the French League. He has secured five Ligue 1 championships and three Coupes de France, notably winning a domestic quadruple during the 2019-20 campaign and runner-up in the club’s first UEFA Champions League final in 2020, marking a significant milestone. As the club’s leading goal scorer of all time, he also holds the esteemed third position for all-time assists. Even as established as he was before the summer departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar, he has stepped up and become the club’s undoubted Talisman.
He won the domestic league Golden Boot four times in a row and is now in line for a fifth with 21 goals and four assists in 22 League 1 matches. He has scored 30 goals in 31 games in all competitions this season.
The 25-year-old next destination is uncertain, but Real Madrid is most likely the club to win the Frenchman’s signature. Mbappe had the chance to sign for Madrid in 2017 but signed for PSG instead, owning to the dominant figures like Christiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema leading the attacks. Madrid’s interest in landing the Frenchman is well-known. Previous attempts to do so have been unsuccessful. For the first time, it is more likely that Mbappe is heading to the Bernabeu.
Mbappe’s only issue of representing his dream team is that it has to be under conditions laid down by the Spanish club. Real Madrid’s directors have stood firm in their approach. Florentino Perez is reluctant to hand Mbappe a contract that could endanger the club’s future. Some reports expressed that Real Madrid’s current offer is lower than it was in 2022 when they tried signing him before he last renewed his contract, with Cadena SER saying he wants 50 million euros ($54 million) gross a season along with a hefty 120 million euros signing-on bonus.
At this point, the news of Kylian Mbappe’s departure is far from shocking. His negligence in signing a new contract despite persuasion from Paris Saint-German was evident that the French star would love to face a newer challenge elsewhere.
Who is on PSG’s List to Replace Mbappe?
Rafael Leao has emerged as a promising candidate to fill the void Mbappe would leave at the club. Leao is versatile and fast on his feet. Features he has similar to Mbappe. The Portuguese is a goal scorer and beats Mbappe to chance-creating. He is sought after by many European and Arabian teams. He currently has a €175m release clause in his existing contract, meaning that AC Milan won’t entertain double-digit offers in the summer. Leao has had a slow campaign this term, with only seven goals in 29 appearances in all competitions for AC Milan. Nonetheless, he has the age and abilities to fill Kylian Mbappe’s void in the team.
Lautaro Martinez is another name short-listed to replace the Frenchman at PSG. The World Cup winner has had an amazing year, leading Inter Milan to the UCL finals last season and are top of the Seria A this season, with 23 goals and five assists in 31 matches.
Marcus Rashford is once again a prime target for PSG. His pace and style of play make him a threat on the counter-attack, perfectly aligning with PSG’s fast-attacking football. With a history of performing at the highest level in the Premier League and on the international stage, Rashford’s arrival would boost PSG’s aspirations for domestic and European success.
Napoli’s Victor Oshimen has also been short-listed as a crucial player to boost the team’s attack.
Upcoming PSG Matches
- Paris Saint-Germain Vs. Rennes (Sunday 25th February, French Ligue 1)
- Monaco Vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Friday 1st March, French Ligue 1)
- Real Sociedad Vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Agg:0 – 2) (Tuesday 5th March, UEFA Champions League)
- Paris Saint-Germain Vs. Reims (Sunday 10th March, French Ligue 1)
- Paris Saint-Germain Vs. Nice (Wednesday 13th March, Coupe de France)
- Montpellier Vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Sunday 17th March, French Ligue 1)
- Marseille Vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Sunday 31st March, French Ligue 1)
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As Les Parisiens prepares for their upcoming fixtures, there’s a sense of anticipation mixed with concern regarding the club’s future, particularly with the impending departure of their key player, Kylian Mbappe. Losing a talent like Mbappe would affect PSG’s future campaigns, and his role won’t be one to be easily replaced. However, the team remains focused on the tasks at hand, determined to achieve success in the domestic League and UEFA Champions League.
I love ❤️ you mbappe