Paris Saint-Germain’s dream of completing an invincible Ligue 1 campaign came to a dramatic halt at the Parc des Princes on Friday, as Nice pulled off a stunning 3-1 victory to keep their own Champions League hopes alive.
Despite wrapping up the title earlier in April, PSG remain firmly at the summit with 78 points, while the win sees Nice climb to fourth place with 54 points.
The Parisians controlled the first 30 minutes, carving out numerous chances, yet it was Nice who struck first.
Morgan Sanson, making his first start of the season, latched onto Badredine Bouanani’s slick through-ball and fired home a composed finish in the 35th minute.
PSG responded swiftly, just six minutes later—through Fabian Ruiz, who brought the home crowd to life with a sublime half-volley to draw level.
But any momentum PSG hoped to carry into the second half vanished almost instantly. Just 22 seconds after the restart, Sanson netted again, this time smashing the ball in from close range to restore Nice’s lead.
With a clinical edge, Nice made the most of their limited chances. Their third goal came in the 70th minute when Youssouf Ndayishimiye rose to meet a free kick, directing a powerful header into the net.
Although PSG boasted 75% possession and generated twice the number of goal-scoring opportunities, they were let down by errant finishing and a heroic display from Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
In stoppage time, Bulka produced two remarkable saves, first denying Goncalo Ramos with a lightning-quick reflex stop, then diving to parry a powerful Vitinha effort from outside the box.
Each save was met with a roar of celebration from the keeper, as Nice dug in to preserve their lead.
The hosts kept pushing, but the visitors remained resolute at the back, sealing a crucial win that significantly enhances their chances of competing in Europe’s premier tournament next season.
Ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal in London, PSG boss Luis Enrique had downplayed the pressure of maintaining an unbeaten record.
“We attacked in many different ways, they defended incredibly well… we would love to play the same kind of match against Arsenal and have 30 chances but we have to congratulate Nice and we will do our best to support each other,” he told DAZN following the match.
