PSG Thwarts Nice's Champions League Dreams
Paris Saint-Germain thwarted Nice's aspirations for a Champions League berth with a 2-1 victory in Ligue 1 on Wednesday, overcoming the absence of departing star Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe, sidelined due to left hamstring discomfort in his final season with PSG, watched as Bradley Barcola and Yoram Zague found the net for the French champions. Barcola struck first in the 18th minute, followed by Zague marking his 18th birthday with his debut goal for PSG.
Nice's Mohamed-Ali Cho managed to pull one back past the half-hour mark, but Melvin Bard's late red card further hampered their chances. The defeat left Nice trailing Lille and Brest by four points, effectively ending their pursuit for the third automatic Champions League qualifying spot.
As a result, Nice secured fifth place in the league standings, ensuring their entry into next season's Europa League group stage.
Meanwhile, Marseille's European hopes suffered a blow with a 1-0 defeat against managerless Reims. Chancel Mbemba's own goal sealed Marseille's fate, leaving them three points adrift of Lens and Lyon in the race for a Europa Conference League berth.
