PARIS: Paris St-Germain warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich by fielding a second-string line-up and throwing away the lead twice in a 2-2 draw with Lorient in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Ibrahim Mbaye’s fortuitous early goal to put PSG in front at the Parc des Princes was soon cancelled out by Pablo Pagis for mid-table Lorient, but Warren Zaire-Emery gave the hosts the lead for the second time when he scored moments after coming on as a second-half substitute.

However, a mistake by teenage debutant Pierre Mounguengue allowed Aiyegun Tosin to run through and score a second equaliser for Lorient, and PSG could not find a winner — even being awarded a penalty in stoppage time for a non-existent handball which was eventually overturned after a VAR intervention.

The result means the outcome of the Ligue 1 title race remains a live issue, with PSG seven points clear of RC Lens who have four games remaining, including a trip to struggling Nice.

Lens also still have to play PSG at home on May 13, and Luis Enrique’s side are clearly focused principally on the defence of their European title as they head to Munich for Wednesday’s semi-final second leg with a 5-4 lead from the remarkable first meeting of the sides. The PSG coach made nine changes to his starting XI here, with Ecuador centre-back Willian Pacho and France forward Desire Doue the only players to retain their places from midweek.

Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who both scored twice against Bayern, were unused substitutes against Lorient while Vitinha was among the players not even in their matchday squad.

Earlier, Olympique de Marseille’s troubled season in the league continued with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat away to Nantes.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026