AUXERRE: Paris St Germain were denied by a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing as the Ligue 1 leaders were held to a 0-0 draw at Auxerre on Friday ahead of a crucial match in their Champions League campaign.

It was a second successive domestic draw for PSG off the back of a damaging 1-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich in European competition at the end of last month.

Luis Enrique’s team remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 with 34 points, eight points clear of their nearest challengers, although AS Monaco and Olympique de Marseille will each have the opportunity to cut that gap to five points over the course of the weekend.

Of more pressing concern to the Qatar-backed club are their continuing difficulties in front of goal, with PSG now having scored just once in three outings.

“I have nothing to reproach my players for. They gave everything. I am not going to criticise them, even internally,” said Luis Enrique.

The return of a genuine number nine in Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos after over three months out injured has so far failed to fix their lack of a goal threat, however.

Ramos came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a header that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Donovan Leon.

Leon continued his impressive form after the break, making several key saves to keep PSG at bay, while Vitinha hit the woodwork in another missed opportunity for the visitors in the 69th minute.

Auxerre, who have lost only once at home this season, had their best chance a minute later, but PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a fine save to deny Hamed Traore.

Leon came to the rescue again to deny Randal Kolo Muani a last-gasp winner, pulling off his 11th save of the match.

“The result does not reflect what we saw on the pitch,” Luis Enrique added. “Don’t forget that we were up against the second-best team at home.”

Auxerre are enjoying a fine season on their return to the top flight following promotion, and sit eighth with 20 points, just outside the European places on goal difference.

PSG will need to rediscover a clinical edge in time for Tuesday’s trip to Austria to play RB Salzburg in the Champions League.

The French champions have just four points after five games in Europe’s elite club competition and realistically need at least two wins from their remaining three fixtures if they are to reach the knockout phase.

Earlier, Lille moved level on points with Marseille and Monaco as Canada striker Jonathan David scored twice, including a penalty, in a 3-1 home win over mid-table Brest.

Lille host Sturm Graz in the Champions League next Wednesday, with Brest taking on PSV Eindhoven 24 hours earlier.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024