PSG grabs late 1-1 draw at Lyon, second-place Nice wins 3-0

French league leader Paris Saint-Germain needed a late equalizer from substitute Thilo Kehrer to grab a 1-1 draw at an inspired Lyon in the French league

PARIS (AP) — French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain needed a late equalizer from substitute Thilo Kehrer to secure a 1-1 draw at inspired Lyon on Sunday.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta scored with Lyon's control in the eighth minute, but after hitting Kylian Mbappe's post for PSG, Kehrer hit a scuffed shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 76th that leapt at goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. .

PSG are 11 points ahead of second-placed Nice and Marseille. But PSG have won just two of their last six matches and are in need of a last-gas equalizer to go into winter break against Lens and Lorient.

Similar vulnerabilities were again exposed as Lyon's audacious approach paid off.

PSG struggled to control the cunning and mighty Paqueta in Paris in September, when he opened the scoring for PSG only to benefit from a soft penalty and won 2–1 in the final seconds of injury time.

Lyon made a strong start again and Houssem and Auer were close as Paqueta opened the scoring, hitting a good low drive from the right edge of the penalty area.

Bruno Guimaraes opened PSG's delicate defense with a brilliant curling pass from midfield on the way to Paqueta, and he finished with confidence - just like Paris.

Lopes then made a fine defense from PSG defender Marquinhos' lob and Mbappé hit the post as the visitors fought back.

But PSG's flagging midfield was easily sidelined again in the 59th when striker Moussa Dembele ran clear, only for goalkeeper Keeler Navas to save his low shot from the right.

Mbappe cut a shot from the left in the 71st while his teammates were waiting for a pass in the field and hit the bar in the 82nd.

But the defeat for Lyon would have been much better than in 11th place.

Earlier, Nice overcame an early send-off to add two more goals in a 3-0 win at Brest.

Nice midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was shown a red card in the 20th minute after Danish striker Kasper Dolberg scored in the 13th minute.

Substitute striker Andy Delorte held on to good pressure before the fifth assist of a productive season from 79th-ranked Amin Gauri. Gauri scored her ninth goal with a deep effort in stoppage time.

Nice ranks above third-place Marseille in goal difference, although Marseille has played one game less.

Nice coach Christophe Gaultier paired Gouri with Dolberg in a 4-4-2 formation. Dolberg's goal was set by Justin Kluvert - the son of former Ajax, Barcelona and Netherlands striker Patrick Kluvert.

Schneiderlin was then ordered by referee Stephanie Frappart for a dangerous tackle.

Philippe Clément's first game in charge of Monaco ended in a 0–0 draw in Nantes.

Clement won three straight Belgian league titles and replaced Nico Kovac after he was fired during the midseason break.

Clément earned a reputation as an attacking-minded coach, but it was a disappointing game of a few occasions, where Monaco defenders Jibril Sidibe and Benot Badiasile went limp with thigh injuries in the first half.

Monaco are in seventh place and have dropped to ninth behind Nantes Strasbourg, who beat Metz 2-0 thanks to goals from striker Ludovic Ajörk and substitute Jean-Eudes Ahoulou.

Montpellier's home game with Troyes was postponed due to the high number of coronavirus cases in the Troyes squad.

Many teams have been given tough competition.

PSG was without Lionel Messi and several other players who had the virus. Messi returned to personal training in the coming days after testing negative for the virus on Thursday.

But winger Angel Di Maria, midfielder Julian Drexler, central defender Danilo Pereira, Levin Kurzawa and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are isolated.