Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made his highly anticipated debut for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Reims at the Parc des Princes. The Georgian winger, who joined PSG from Napoli for a reported €70 million, made an immediate impact by assisting Ousmane Dembélé for the opening goal. Dembélé, who has been in excellent form, scored his eighth goal in his last seven appearances to put PSG ahead early in the second half. However, Keito Nakamura responded minutes later for Reims, ensuring the spoils were shared.
Kvaratskhelia’s Strong Debut but Draw Leaves PSG Disappointed
The result, coming after a superb midweek win over Manchester City in the Champions League, left PSG unbeaten domestically but unable to extend their winning run. They remain 10 points clear of Marseille at the top of Ligue 1, but the draw with Reims was a disappointing outcome given the circumstances.
“Kvaratskhelia brings something unique when he has the ball.” The PSG coach was impressed with the Georgian’s performance, highlighting his ability to make an immediate impact despite his lack of recent match fitness.
Kvaratskhelia still lacked match fitness after being sidelined for a month, but Luis Enrique was hopeful for more positive contributions from the 22-year-old in the future.
PSG’s Dominance Unrewarded
Despite dominating possession, PSG failed to find a second goal. Reims, who have only won once in their last 12 league matches, were resilient and could have even taken all three points had it not been for PSG’s solid defending.
Kvaratskhelia played a key role in the opening goal, linking up well with Dembélé before setting him up for a deflected strike that found the back of the net. Reims quickly responded through Nakamura, who finished calmly to level the score.
Rotations for Upcoming Champions League Match
Ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial Champions League clash with VfB Stuttgart, Coach Luis Enrique made strategic rotations to manage player fitness. Key figures like Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, and Vitinha were rested, ensuring they are fresh for the pivotal European tie. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stepped in for the sidelined Bradley Barcola, showcasing his talent in a new role. A draw in Germany would see PSG advance to the Champions League knockout stages.
Monaco’s Victory and Lille’s Streak Ended
Meanwhile, Monaco climbed to third place in Ligue 1 after securing a 3-2 win over Rennes. Goals from Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Biereth, and Aleksandr Golovin helped Monaco hold on for victory, despite a spirited second-half comeback from Rennes. Akliouche’s stunning overhead kick in the 15th minute gave Monaco the lead.
Lille, on the other hand, saw their club-record 21-match unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg. Despite an early goal from Osame Sahraoui, Lille couldn’t hold off Strasbourg, who turned the game in their favor with goals from Andrey Santos and Emanuel Emegha.
“Strasbourg remain unbeaten in their last eight games, and Monaco is just three points behind Marseille,” highlighting the competitive nature of Ligue 1 at the top.
Looking Ahead: PSG’s Upcoming Challenges
As PSG prepares for their Champions League clash, Kvaratskhelia’s debut shows promise, and the club will look to build on his performance while seeking better results in the coming weeks.
