Recap: Abdi, Mendes score as Nice-PSG play to 1-1 draw
Match Reports
OGC Nice and Paris Saint-Germain played a 1-1 draw on Sunday night at Allianz Riviera as the two squads couldn't find the second goal to head into the FIFA international window on a winning note.
The two squads exchanged five total shots each in the first half, but it was the home side who opened the scoring thanks to a goal from Ali Abdi in the 39th minute, his first for Les Aiglons. Nice went into halftime nursing a 1-0 lead and had 45 minutes to hold onto their advantage to leave with all three points.
PSG would have more total shots in the second half than Le Gym as the away side recorded 14 while Nice only had four. Luis Enrique and his team leveled the scoring courtesy of a goal in the 52nd minute from Nuno Mendes.
Neither side would find the back of the net and in his postgame comments to DAZN, Nice's veteran defender Dante noted that the squad was frustrated with the final result.
"Yeah, there's some frustration. Paris had more possession, but we created the better chances. We followed the coach's (Franck Haise) plan really well. Of course, we wanted the win, but getting a point is still a positive. You have to respect the opponent you're up against. We just had to make the most of what we had, and I think we did that."
On the other side, Bradley Barcola told DAZN that PSG had an underwhelming first half, but their form improved in the final 45 minutes, which led to the Mendes goal.
"We weren't really in the game during the first half, but we woke up in the second. It's frustrating that we couldn't take advantage of our chances. Some games are just like that. It's always tough to play here. We should've played the first half the way we did the second. What's missing? Maybe a bit more drive, I’m not sure."
The draw isn't ideal for PSG as they fail to stay on par with AS Monaco, who defeated Stade Rennais on Saturday, and now it's Adi Hütter and his team heading into the international window as Ligue 1 leaders.
Nice remain in ninth place in Ligue 1, two points out of the UEFA Europa Conference League spot for next season that RC Lens currently occupy.
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