Paris Saint-Germain were held to a frustrating goalless draw by basement side Clermont in Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash.
PSG started the day in third place with just three victories from their opening six games but should have been full of confidence after thrashing Marseille 4-0 the previous weekend.
However, with question marks over Kylian Mbappe’s fitness, the Parisens lacked a cutting edge in attack as they dropped two points in their defence of the league title.
Luis Enrique handed a start to Mbappe despite concerns over the 24-year-old’s fitness after he limped off during the win over Marseille.
But the France international struggled to influence the game, reduced to half chances in a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
After having an appeal for a penalty turned away, Mbappe almost laid on an assist when he pulled a cross back to Ousmane Dembele, whose first-time shot from the edge of the box forced Mory Diaw into a fine fingertip save.
Clermont had threatened on the counter-attack without testing Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first half, but his opposite number was tested again by Dembele’s volley on the stroke of half-time.
The hosts came firing out of the traps after the restart and would have taken the lead only for the excellent reflexes of Donnarumma. The PSG goalkeeper kept out Shamar Nicholson’s point-blank shot before gathering himself to save Yohann Magnin’s effort on the rebound.
Another opportunity came and went for PSG as Mbappe – who was later booked for simulation – clipped the outside of the post, before Diaw pulled off top-drawer saves to deny substitute Goncalo Ramos and Danilo, as Clermont held on for only their second point of the season.
The result moves PSG above Nice into second but they remain a point behind leaders Brest, who have a game in hand. Clermont, meanwhile, climb above Lyon having clinched just their second point of the season.
