(Ligue 1 2024/2025): Highlights REIMS - PSG
Stade de Reims hosted League leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 5.
Japanese duo Ito Junya and Nakamura Keito made up a big part of the Reims attack,
and having lost the corresponding fixture 3-0 to an Mbappé hat-trick last season,
Luka Elsler's side wanted to show more going forward this time.
PSG's perfect start to the season had spanned four Ligue 1 games,
and they wanted to add another win to that list at Stade Auguste Delon.
The home side presented themselves well though in the opening phase of the game,
Umar Diakite turned well and slid the pass down the right-hand side for Ito.
He had Nakamura waiting for the ball in the middle, and he found his teammate.
Nakamura did the rest from the centre.
There was some fortune for the Japanese forward when the ball came back to him,
but he fired it home, and the injured PSG keeper Donnarumma had to watch on
as stand-in Matvei Safonov failed to keep a clean sheet.
The guests did have a great chance to level after 21 minutes.
Randall Kolomwani from the right, picking out Li Kang-in in the box.
His shot was struck right on the sweet spot, but straight at keeper Diouf,
and the Reims defence scrambled the ball away to safety.
PSG would test Diouf again after 35 minutes.
19-year-old striker Désiré Doué dancing away from his markers
and firing towards the near post.
Fleet footwork from the former Rennes forward.
He got away from his markers, but he could not quite beat Diouf in goal.
And Paris Saint-Germain would go in at the break, behind on the scoreboard.
But they had come from behind to win in their last Ligue 1 game,
and they wanted to do the same this time.
Gomez cutting inside before delivering an almost perfect cross
for Bradley Barcola in the centre.
He headed over the top from a really good position.
A big let off for the Reims defence.
At the other end, the hosts would go direct from way out.
It was difficult to pass their way into the box, but instead,
Emmanuel Agbadou lined up a thunderous effort on goal from distance.
It was just off target that Safanov was not leaving that to chance.
Doué soon made way for Dembélé up front for PSG,
and the switch would soon pay dividends.
João Neves got the ball on the left, whipped in a cross towards the back post,
and Dembélé turned it in.
Somehow, Dembélé found a way to score,
despite a high degree of difficulty, given the angle.
It was Neves with the cross that dipped and was difficult for the defence to manage.
And Dembélé did the rest from the back post to make it 1-1.
And after that, it was the guests who looked the most likely to go and win it.
A huge chance almost opened up for them in stoppage time.
But Stade des Rams were not yet spent as an attacking force in the game.
Amine Salama broke away at pace, picked out his pass for Noah Sangui.
But the academy graduate would blaze his shot over the bar.
The home side looked crestfallen at the end,
having passed up the chance of beating PSG.
But they nevertheless became the first side to take points off Paris Saint-Germain
in the new Ligue 1 season after a 1-1 draw.