13-3-2024 PSG 3 Nice 1 Coupe de France

PSG, or maybe it should be Kylian Mbappe’s PSG, comfortably beat Nice at a packed Parc des Princes to qualify for another French Cup semi-final.

The first half featured a lightning Mbappe one-two and thus a goal within 15 minutes followed later by him hitting the woodwork.

Although the excellent Ivorian Jeremie Boga would set up Laborde for a Nice goal before the break it never seemed likely to be enough.

And it wasn't as the Parisians went on to win 3-1.

Before a continuously vibrant home support the Parisians set about beating Nice with a hard press and some magic from their main man - Kylian Mbappe.

That led to an early goal after a typically fast one-two involving Fabian Ruiz.

The latter would add a second after a catastrophic error by goalie Bulka who lost the ball under pressure from Dembele.

With Vitinha often controlling the play and Mbappe offering those darting runs PSG looked comfortable.

However, as they eased off slightly the visitors came into the match in the last fifteen minutes of the first half.  

Especially when the Ivorian Jeremie Boga was on the ball down the left wing and it was from one of his breaks that Laborde struck to make it 2-1 at the interval.

And Nice did threaten early in the second through Boga and Lotombe with 22-year-old Khephren Thuram showing up well in midfield.

But they were set back when PSG defender Beraldo nodded in the third on the hour.

In control, PSG might have got more either through a tricky Lee free-kick or an Mbappe right-foot curler.

Bradley Barcola came on for a sharp cameo before we saw some late action including a chance for sub. Moffi that was diverted away.

Ultimately it was a solid win for the Parisians with a full game for Mbappe and they will host Rennes in early April with the winner meeting Lyon or Valenciennes in the Coupe de France final.

Analysis - John Bethell in Paris. 

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