The defending champions’ margin at the top of the standings has been reduced to six points, and with crucial matches upcoming, a domestic championship is not yet assured.
Everything was too simple for Lyon. Sael Kumbedi deflected a pass from Thiago Mendes to the far post across the face of the goal. Bradley Barcola, who was unblemished on his approach to the quarterback’s pass, was unable to misfire from six yards out.
Three passes were enough to defeat Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG would attempt a comeback, but never managed to score an equalizer. The crowd jeered every time Lionel Messi touched the ball. Kylian Mbappe attempted to do far too much, passing up on wide passes and instead colliding with Lyon defenders. At the conclusion of the match, Messi made a beeline for the tunnel as the visitors celebrated their historic 1-0 victory at Parc des Princes.
The loss was the latest in a string of disappointing performances from PSG this calendar year. Since the beginning of the year, they have lost five times in Ligue 1 and been eliminated from the Champions League and Coupe de France.
They went from sure league winners, leading Marseille by 11 points as recently as March 5, to clinging to a perilous six-point lead with tough games remaining.
This item has not yet been bottled. But it could very easily become one. PSG’s failure to win Ligue 1 would be their greatest humiliation to date, given their superior individual character and spending power compared to their rivals.
Ironically, it may be PSG’s greatest weakness as a team that saves them. Indeed, the Parisians have a weakly constructed team, relying on elite players and hoping that the supporting cast can hold everything together.
Their front three’s insistence on operating on a separate plane of responsibility has resulted in high-profile losses caused by their shoddy construction.
This time, however, the superstars will have to demonstrate why they were recruited. Messi and Mbappe are now required to respond, not the nine unfortunate creatures surrounding them.