Nice 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on target as PSG get back on track in Ligue 1

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos were both on target as Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain got their title push back on track with a 2-0 victory at OGC Nice that eases some of the pressure on under-fire boss Christophe Galtier.

PSG had gone into the contest on the back of two surprising defeats that had reignited an unlikely race with both Lens and Marseille, but the reigning champions responded against Le Gym with Messi opening the scoring courtesy of a smart first-time finish on 26 minutes.

Nice almost levelled prior to the break but the magnificent Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a couple of brilliant saves to keep out Nicolas Pepe and Terem Moffi.

The hosts continued to threaten following the restart with Dante left bemused at failing to equalise when his snapshot hit both the crossbar and post before somehow not fully crossing the line.

PSG were second best for long spells but avoided a nervy finale when Ramos rose highest to head in a corner 14 minutes from time.

The result moves PSG six points clear of second-placed Lens with eight games to play ahead of the clash between the sides at the Parc des Princes next Saturday. Nice remain eighth for now but are seven points off the European places.

Didier Digard and his team will have to recover quickly with the first leg of their Europa Conference league quarter-final clash at FC Basel on Thursday night followed by a league trip to Brest on Sunday.

Talking point – PSG fail to impress but get the outcome they desperately needed

This was a must-win game for Paris with their season threatening to implode both on and off the pitch. There is a high level of uncertainty about the future of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Messi and Galtier and results since the World Cup break have been way below the expectations demanded by both the club’s fans and owners.

This was always going to be a tricky test on paper – and so it proved – but a hard-fought victory should provide the lift the PSG players need to drag themselves over the line in the title race, although they still need to navigate next week’s showdown with Lens.

Nice were on a 14-game unbeaten run but their hopes of securing a European place next season now look to be fading unless they triumph in the Europa Conference League, with the recent flood of draws leaving them with it all to do in the Ligue 1 table.

Player of the match – Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)

The Italian remained focused during Paris’s initial dominance but was kept busy for much of the remainder of the encounter, producing a series of top-drawer saves to help secure a crucial victory.

Player Ratings

NICE: Schmeichel 7, Todibo 7, Ndayishimiye 7, Dante 7, Mendy 7, Thuram 8, Boudaoui 7, Bard 7, Ramsey 7, Moffi 7, Pepe 7. Subs: Brahimi 6, Rosario 6, Laborde 5, Bouanani n/a, Barkley n/a.

PSG: Donnarumma 9, Danilo 8, Ramos 7, Marquinhos 8, Sanches 5, Vitinha 7, Mendes 7, Hakimi 7, Soler 6, Messi 7, Mbappe 6. Subs: Fabian 6, Bitshiabu 5, Zaire Emery n/a.

Match Highlights

22’ – PSG CHANCE! Danilo is left free to meet a left-wing cross but plants his firm header against the foot of the post. Schmeichel reacts fastest to the rebound and denies PSG a tap-in.

26’ – GOAL! – Nice 0-1 PSG. Messi breaks the deadlock as he helps Nuno Mendes’s driven, low pass into the far corner.

43’ – NICE CHANCE! Pepe will feel he should have levelled matters after lovely work from Thuram created an opening for the hosts. Donnarumma pulled off the save from close range as the forward arrived on cue with a low first-time shot at the far post.

45’ – NICE CHANCE! Donnarumma springs to his left to keep out a fine header from Moffi. Nice are ending the first period on the front foot.

51’ – NICE CHANCE! How did that stay out? Dante swivels to attack the loose ball from a left-wing corner and sees his shot hit the bar and post before staying out. It looked like it crossed the line but the referee didn’t get the alert from the goal-line technology.

71’ – NICE CHANCE! Donnarumma is at it again. Todibo meets a right-wing corner with a firm, downward header but the Italian ‘keeper sticks out another strong arm to deny him.

76’ – GOAL! – Nice 0-2 PSG. Ramos leaps highest to guide a header from a left-wing corner into the far corner.

Key Stats

Messi’s strike was PSG’s 100th goal in all competitions this season.

Marquinhos played his 400th game for Paris in all competitions, becoming the third player to reach this tally after Jean-Marc Pilorget (435) and Marco Verratti (409).

Nice lost for the first time in 11 home Ligue 1 matches.