Late equaliser saves point for PSG in frustrating draw with Clermont

Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw by rock-bottom side Clermont Foot at the Parc des Princes late on Saturday. The result extended the Parisians’ winless run in the league at their home stadium to three matches, despite their dominance throughout the contest.

With an eye on their upcoming UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona, manager Luis Enrique opted to make 11 changes to the starting lineup that secured a midweek cup triumph. While PSG enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and chances, they struggled to find the breakthrough against a resilient Clermont side.

The visitors took a shock lead in the 32nd minute when Habib Keïta turned home a deflected effort following a superb layoff from Alan Virginius. The Parisians thought they had equalised just before the interval, but Senny Mayulu’s goal was ruled out after a VAR review spotted a foul in the build-up.

The second half saw the hosts piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser, but Clermont’s disciplined defensive display continued to frustrate the league leaders. Achraf Hakimi came close on two occasions, striking the underside of the bar, but the visitors held firm until the dying stages.

Kylian Mbappé’s introduction in the final 20 minutes finally paid dividends, as the French striker set up Gonçalo Ramos to salvage a point for the Parisians in the 85th minute. Despite the late drama, Clermont returned home with a hard-earned point, though they remain seven points adrift at the bottom of the table. For PSG, the draw sees them extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, but their title charge has been slightly hindered by their recent form.