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PSG wanted to focus on a Champions League hat-trick. Now Ligue 1 is rebelling

From Neue Zürcher Zeitung · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Paris Saint-Germain have failed to win any of their first four matches this season, including a 2-1 home defeat to Monaco.
  • PSG trail Monaco by seven points as rivals question the club’s advantages, including its much larger budget and favorable fixture decisions.
  • The French champions are seeking a third consecutive Champions League title while facing an unexpectedly competitive domestic campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain have gone four games without a win, a startling start for the Champions League holders and France’s dominant club. After losing the French Super Cup to Lens and drawing at Rennes and Lille, PSG lost 2-1 to Monaco in their home opener.

The result leaves the capital club seven points behind Monaco, coached by the promising Brazilian Filipe Luís. Lille, with Davide Ancelotti, and Lens, coached by former Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmöller, have also introduced intriguing new coaches. Rennes and Lyon are seen as capable of putting together solid seasons.

PSG had intended to concentrate on the Champions League. After winning Europe’s top competition twice in a row, the French side will begin its new campaign at home against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, aiming for a hat-trick. Since the tournament expanded beyond the old European Cup format, only Real Madrid have won three consecutive titles, from 2016 to 2018.

At home, even the prospect of a title race looks unusual because of the enormous financial gap. PSG operates with a budget of about 900 million euros, while its rivals have no more than one-fifth of that. Rival clubs also point to other advantages.

The debate intensified after PSG came from behind with two stoppage-time goals to draw 2-2 at Lille. The equalizer arrived more than a minute after the announced added time, prompting Lille president Olivier Létang to call it “A scandal.” PSG also had a match against Rennes moved after declaring the pitch at the Parc des Princes unplayable because of summer heat. The league later scheduled the return match in Paris for March 6.

A scandal

· Olivier LétangThe Lille president criticized the timing of PSG’s late equalizer in a 2-2 draw.
About this summary

Originally published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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