Paris Saint-Germain’s title celebrations were delayed on Saturday night – for another 24 hours, at least – as an adventurous showing from relegation-threatened Le Havre came within minutes of claiming a sorely-needed 3 points at the Parc des Princes . Les Parisiens, admittedly with upcoming Champions League semi-final at the front of their minds, were unable to move out of first gear until the final 15 minutes. The Normans, meanwhile, would make the most of their chances – but were ultimately denied the win by a decisive Gonçalo Ramos cameo.
Despite the occasion, Luis Enrique’s focus was – understandably – on Tuesday’s clash in Dortmund. All of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, and Lucas Hernandez left out of this weekend’s squad entirely, while Kylian Mbappé returned to an increasingly familiar seat on the bench.
Le Havre were not to be kept at bay. The hosts dominated a tepid opening twenty minutes, albeit without the incisiveness to cause Le Havre any trouble. Luka Elsner’s men were eventually able to break out – and made the most of their first clear-cut opportunity. A free-flowing counter, featuring an André Ayew backheel, would see Emmanuel Sabbi fend off two PSG defenders to play through the onrushing Christopher Opéri on the left, who found the far post to beat Keylor Navas.
The league leaders’ response came ten minutes later, and was fittingly set up by Warren Zaïre-Emery, whose contract extension until 2029 was announced just before kick-off. Having been found in the box by Ousmane Dembélé, the teenager handed his fellow espoir Bradley Barcola an open-goal finish with a cutback across goal.
But complacency set in once again for the hosts, and ten minutes later they were punished by a familiar foe in former Marseille striker André Ayew. In a rare attacking spell for the Normans, the veteran forward was found by Négo, before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box which beat Navas, despite a deflection from Danilo Pereira.
Négo would be decisive after the break as well, with the French-Hungarian full-back drawing a penalty after being brought down by Pereira on the hour mark. The spot-kick – awarded by Willy Delajod after a swift VAR check – was duly converted by Abdoulaye Touré.
Achraf Hakimi’s goal with fifteen minutes to go would shake the hosts out of their slumber, with Gonçalo Ramos setting up the Moroccan. It was Ramos who would go on to head in the 95th-minute equaliser – from Kang-in Lee’s cross – to spare the league leaders from a second home defeat of the campaign.
The Portuguese striker’s instant impact – after another misfiring performance from Randal Kolo Muani – would further bolster his case to be the centre of PSG’s attack post-Kylian Mbappé. For now, though, the focus will be on Dortmund – and a potential title celebration as early as tomorrow afternoon, should Monaco slip up.
Paris Saint-Germain player ratings
Keylor Navas, 5
Achraf Hakimi, 6
Marquinhos, 5
Danilo Pereira, 4
Lucas Beraldo, 5
Warren Zaïre-Emery, 6
Vitinha, 4
Marco Asensio, 4
Ousmane Dembélé, 5
Randal Kolo Muani, 2 – In dire need of a goal to break his drought, the former Nantes man was scarcely involved in the first half, and was largely ineffective when combining with his fellow forwards. He was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos (8) for the final half hour – the Portuguese striker made an instant impact, setting up PSG’s second befor heading in the equaliser.
Bradley Barcola, 6
Le Havre player ratings
Arthur Desmas, 5
Loïc Négo, 7
Arouna Sangante, 6
Yoann Salmier, 6
Gauthier Lloris, 6
Christopher Opéri, 7
Oussama Targhaline, 6
Abdoulaye Touré, 5
Emmanuel Sabbi, 6
Josué Casimir, 6
André Ayew, 7 – Rolled back the years by scoring against PSG in sky blue and white. The veteran has been involved in 7 goals against Les Parisiens over the course of his Ligue 1 career – a better tally than against any other team he has faced. His tireless work on the right wing – which saw him play a part in the opener, as well – was crucial in keeping a beleaguered PSG defence occupied.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – At the Parc des Princes
