Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain faced a 2-2 draw at home against Reims on Sunday, a match that saw PSG manager Luis Enrique benching top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who only entered the game in the final 20 minutes.
While PSG extended their unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 to 20 games, it marked their third consecutive draw, despite Reims putting up an impressive performance and even contributing an own goal.
With both teams securing a point, PSG maintained their lead over second-placed Brest by 10 points, while Reims currently sits ninth with 35 points.
In a post-match interview, Enrique, smiling, wished Mbappe well for the future, sidestepping questions about the club's top scorer. This decision to bench Mbappe comes amidst the player's announcement last month of his intention to leave PSG as a free agent at the end of the season.
Enrique expressed admiration for Mbappe, not just as a player but also as a person, wishing him the best moving forward.
Reims took an early lead in the seventh minute, capitalizing on an error from PSG's Achraf Hakimi. Despite PSG quickly responding with an own goal, followed by Goncalo Ramos giving them the lead, Reims managed to level the score 2-2 just before halftime.
Enrique brought on both Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in the 73rd minute in search of a winner, but Reims held firm, securing a valuable point.
RESULTS:
PSG 2 (Abdelhamid 17-og, Ramos 19) Reims 2 (Munetsi 7, Diakite 45)
Other Results:
- Le Havre 1 (Operi 60) Toulouse 0
- Metz 1 (Mikautadze 33-P) Clermont 0
- Strasbourg 0 Monaco 1 (Ben Seghir 72)
- Lille 2 (David 84, 90+2) Rennes 2 (Blas 1, Kalimuendo 20)
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