PARIS, Feb 20: Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain slipped to only its second French league defeat of the season after losing 3-1 at an inspired Nantes on Saturday.
PSG still has a big lead and will be 10 points clear even if second-place Marseille wins on Sunday, yet the manner of the defeat looks worrying for coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino’s side trailed 3-0 at halftime, the first time PSG has conceded three in the first half since cash-rich Qatari investors QSI bought the club 11 years ago.
Randal Kolo Muani put Nantes ahead after just four minutes and 19-year-old forward Quentin Merlin blasted the ball into the top left corner in the 16th as the home side stunned PSG.
Nantes defender Dennis Appiah was shown a red card for pulling Kylian Mbappe near the end of the first half. Referee Mikael Lesage then went to a video review and changed it to a yellow.
The referee was busy again deep into first-half stoppage time when he consulted VAR and spotted a handball from Georginio Wijnaldum. Midfielder Ludovic Blas converted the penalty.
Neymar pulled a goal back from Lionel Messi’s pass just after the break.
Earlier, striker Tino Kadewere grabbed his first goal of the season to help Lyon draw 1-1 at Lens.
Kadewere equalized just before halftime when he turned in Karl Toko Ekambi’s pinpoint cross to the back post.Lens scored in the 13th minute through defender Jonathan Clauss. (AP)
