This time the eleventh title in Ligue 1 is indeed in danger. Dominated by Rennes (2-0) just before the international break, PSG still displayed all its weaknesses of the moment.

Lens (2nd) and Marseille (3rd) are only six lengths away, which no longer seem insurmountable as Paris plays badly.

In the next two days, the leader travels to Nice, unbeaten since January 2, then receive the Blood and Gold for a match that could have the first place at stake if Christophe Galtier's team continues to sink.

The eliminations in the France Cup against Marseille and in the Champions League against Bayern Munich have not been digested, obviously.

The coach must find solutions if he wants to be still on the bench next season, as he sees himself. But he does not manage to solve the problem of this end of the championship in slow motion.

Paris showed a lot of excitement in defence. The young El Chadaille Bitshiabu (17 years old) lost too many balls and even Danilo Pereira, usually very sure, let slip several.

Messi whistled

On the Lyon goal, signed Bradley Barcola popped up at the second post (56), the Parisian rearguard is completely frozen, like its captain, Marquinhos.

PSG midfielder Lionel Messi (c) in front of Lyon's Corentin Tolisso, on April 2, 2023 at the Parc des Princes © FRANCK FIFE / AFP

In the cages, Gianluigi Donnarumma maintained doubts about his account by causing a penalty by mowing down Alexandre Lacazette after miscontrolling a ball.

Fortunately for the Italian goalkeeper the only penalty was a yellow card: the Lyon captain hit the penalty on the post (39).

OL can blame themselves, on this action a slide prevented Barcola, in an excellent position, from hitting.

Then Donnarumma prevented Lyon from making the break (67, 70), but it was before that we had to be decisive.

This time the solution did not come from Kylian Mbappé, not in a good evening except for a few flashes. No goal at the very end of the match as against Strasbourg or Brest.

Nor did it come from Messi, transparent and several times whistled by the Parc des Princes.

His name was booed an hour before kick-off - delayed for a problem at the Lyon bus - by the first to arrive at the stadium.

Lyon ready for Nantes

The bronca was less clear when the teams were announced, but whistles still went down. And on its poorly negotiated opportunities, the Park grumbled distinctly (26, 52).

For his 50th match in L1, Messi seemed far from a renewal of his contract, which expires in June.

If nothing goes to PSG, OL have perfectly prepared their most important match of the season, the semi-final of the Coupe de France in Nantes, on Wednesday.

Paris' El Chadaille Bitshiabu in front of Lyon's Bradley Barcola, on April 2, 2023 at the Parc des Princes © STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

A final victory would save OL's season by offering them a chimerical European qualification despite this prestigious victory. President Jean-Michel Aulas' club is still eight points away from 5th place, occupied by Lille.

Laurent Blanc, back at the Parc after coaching PSG from 2013 to 2016, has succeeded.

His team overcame the aftershocks, the exit of its Swedish striker Amine Sarr, injured at the beginning of the match and replaced by Barcola (22nd), and the penalty missed by Lacazette.

Paris, which has only the championship to win, ended up under the resigned whistles of the stadium, not even a bronca.

The K-Soce, the main group of Parisian ultras, celebrated its 15th anniversary, and chained the "tifos" even after the defeat and fired a fireworks. On Saturday Mbappé, Achraf Hakimi and Donnarumma had even gone to the headquarters of the supporters. But Sunday the party was ruined.

© 2023 AFP