2nd March, 2013
PARIS (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain suffered another shock away defeat on Saturday, going down 1-0 away to struggling Reims despite the hosts having to play with 10 men for the final half an hour.
Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak was the star for the home side, netting the all-important goal just six minutes after Christopher Glombard had been sent-off.
The introduction of David Beckham for the final 26 minutes could not prevent the capital club slipping to their fifth Ligue 1 defeat this season, and their second in three outings following a 3-2 reverse at Sochaux last month.
“It’s not the same problem (as it was against Sochaux), it’s a different match. At Sochaux it was an attitude problem in particular. Here, we had problems playing because the pitch wasn’t good,” was the verdict of PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti.
“It’s not a problem of concentration. We tried to play with the ball on the ground but the pitch wasn’t good. I can’t be angry. The team is doing good work, we are still top of Ligue 1. Today it was a technical problem, not a problem with attitude,” the Italian added.
Ancelotti’s side remain three points clear at the top of the table, but Lyon will join them at the summit by beating Brest in Brittany on Sunday.
The result also gives a glimmer of renewed hope to third-placed Marseille, who entertain Troyes on Sunday.
PSG made the short trip to Champagne country fresh from beating bitter rivals Marseille twice in the last week, once in the league and once in the Round of 16 of the French Cup.
Ancelotti made seven changes to his team from the Cup tie, with Javier Pastore, Lucas and Ezequiel Lavezzi among those returning along with the suspension-free Marco Verratti.
His return in central midfield meant that Beckham was back on the bench at kick-off at a packed Stade Auguste-Delaune.
Even with one eye on the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Valencia next Wednesday, PSG should have been strong enough to see off the challenge of a Reims side with just one win in their previous 19 matches in all competitions.