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Late Ramos goal rescues PSG in 1-1 draw with bottom of table Clermont

Goncalo Ramos's last-minute goal spared the Ligue 1 front-runners Paris St Germain from a loss on their home turf against Clermont, securing a 1-1 tie at Parc des Princes this Saturday. PSG coach Luis Enrique had previously fielded an entirely different lineup but ultimately relied on Kylian Mbappe's late contribution.

Reuters SPORTS
Published April 07,2024
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A late Goncalo Ramos goal saved Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain from a home defeat to bottom-of-table Clermont in a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes on Saturday, after PSG manager Luis Enrique sent out a fully changed side but needed Kylian Mbappe late on.

PSG, with one league loss all season, are on 63 points, 13 ahead of second-placed Brest who play Metz on Sunday. Clermont remain bottom on 21 points, two behind Metz.

PSG went in at the break a goal down after Habib Keita scored in the 32nd minute, but the home side, helped by Mbappe's appearance later on, salvaged a point with five minutes left through Ramos.

Enrique named a completely different starting line-up to the team that beat Rennes 1-0 in the Coupe de France semi-final on Wednesday, with one eye clearly on next week's Champions League quarter-final tie with Barcelona.

Yoram Zague made his PSG debut and another 17-year-old, Senny Mayulu, started his first game for the club after making three substitute appearances earlier this season.

The first half brought plenty of PSG possession, but they failed to carve out any clear-cut chances apart from a shot by Achraf Hakimi saved by the leg of keeper Massamba Ndiaye, which turned out to be PSG's only shot on target in the opening half.

Instead, it was Clermont who took a shock lead after Milan Skriniar failed to deal with a long ball into the box allowing Yohann Magnin to get a cross back into the area.

Alan Virginius collected the cross and got his pass away to Keita, whose shot was deflected in.

PSG thought they had found an equaliser at the end of the first half when Mayulu struck a beautiful shot from distance, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for a foul in the build-up.

It was all PSG after the break, Hakimi hitting the crossbar and Clermont's keeper saving from Randal Kolo Muani, but with no goals coming, it was time for Mbappe to make his entrance.

He didn't have to wait long for his first chance. Hakimi's shot from distance was saved by the keeper, Ramos somehow hit the bar from the rebound followed by Mbappe heading into the keeper's arms.

Ramos had a header tipped over by Ndiaye but was not to be denied after a one-two with Mbappe, whose pass sent Ramos through one-on-one with the keeper and he buried his low shot into the far corner.

PSG couldn't find a winner, however, and for the second time this season they were held to a draw by Clermont, which probably won't stop PSG winning their 12th Ligue 1 championship, and may not be enough to save Clermont from relegation.