Paris Saint-Germain drew 0-0 away at struggling Ligue 1 team Clermont on Saturday as a warm-up for a trip to England where they will play Newcastle United in the Champions League.
Despite Kylian Mbappe being a questionable starter for PSG coach Luis Enrique due to an ailment throughout the week, Mbappe had a difficult afternoon against in-form Mory Diaw in goal and received a late diving caution.
Paris Saint-Germain drew 0-0 away at struggling Ligue 1 team Clermont on Saturday as a warm-up for a trip to England where they will play Newcastle United in the Champions League.
Despite Kylian Mbappe being a questionable starter for PSG coach Luis Enrique due to an ailment throughout the week, Mbappe had a difficult afternoon against in-form Mory Diaw in goal and received a late diving caution.
The current French champions had hoped to build on convincing victories over Borussia Dortmund and Marseille in their last two games, but this outcome shows they are still far from their best under their new management.
PSG is currently second in the rankings, a point behind surprise leader Brest, after having won just three of their first seven league games.
Clermont entered this match bottom of the table and with just one point so far this season, despite having defeated the Parisians away in their final game of the previous season.
Although they remain winless, the surprising point moves them off the bottom of the standings relative to Lyon, who play on Sunday, based on goal differential.
Mbappe was a question mark going into the game after leaving the field against Marseille last weekend with an ankle injury, but Luis Enrique resisted the urge to rest his star player in light of Wednesday’s match at Newcastle.
The leading scorer for PSG was actively involved, embarking on an early lightning run down the left and supplying a low pass for Ousmane Dembele, whose initial attempt was superbly stopped by Diaw.
Before halftime, the Clermont goalkeeperโwho was formerly on the PSG roster as a kid but never appeared in a game for a top-flight teamโalso denied Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani, and Dembele.
A minute after the break, Yohann Magnin’s follow-up shot struck the post after visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a fantastic save on his line to stop Jamaican forward Shamar Nicholson.
The most of the action, however, was at the opposite end, where Mbappe hit the outside of a post after Dembele’s pass before receiving a caution 10 minutes from time for collapsing there.
After that event, Diaw saved his best for last. Despite falling to the ground early, he managed to paw away a Goncalo Ramos shot, and he finished off his afternoon’s work with another key stop from a Danilo Pereira header.
Later on Saturday, when Marseille travels to Monaco, new manager Gennaro Gattuso will assume control of the team for the first time.
In preparation for their Champions League match against Arsenal at home on Tuesday, Lens defeated Strasbourg 1-0 on the road on Friday courtesy to a goal from Elye Wahi.
On Sunday, third-placed Nice will host Brest.
