In a thrilling encounter that mirrored the intensity of the Paris-Nice cycling race, PSG and Les Aiglons clashed in a match that was crucial for both teams. Earlier in the season, Nice had managed to snatch a victory at PSG’s home ground, marking the only home defeat for PSG across all competitions, thanks to a stellar performance by Terem Moffi. This match was a symbol of the high-octane start to Francesco Farioli’s tenure.
PSG, leading Ligue 1 and aiming to extend their dominance, faced challenges in replicating their league success in domestic cup competitions, having suffered consecutive round of 16 exits in recent seasons. This time, however, PSG was determined to change the narrative and took control of the game early on. Kylian Mbappé, who had been rested for most of the weekend’s game, displayed exceptional sharpness, scoring the opening goal and nearly adding another by hitting the woodwork.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72837473/1773618531.0.jpg "PSG 3-1 Nice: Kylian Mbappe scores in Coupe de France Quarter-final 1")
Ousmane Dembélé’s quick thinking led to PSG’s second goal, taking advantage of a mistake by Marcin Bułka. Despite Gaëtan Laborde’s goal for Nice, PSG went into halftime with a lead and a sense of assurance.
The second half saw PSG solidify their lead with Lucas Beraldo’s first goal for the club, capitalizing on a setup by Vitinha and Dante. Nice’s intensity waned after the break, and while they had opportunities, including a late attempt by Alexis Claude-Maurice, PSG looked more likely to score again.
PSG’s victory not only secured their place in the semi-finals against Rennes but also indicated that they had learned from past seasons’ pitfalls. For Nice, the search for form continues, as their last win in all competitions was five weeks prior. Despite some promising individual performances, the early-season form that made them PSG’s main challengers seems to be slipping away.