Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to take provisional top spot in Ligue 1 yesterday with a 1-1 draw at Rennes putting a dampener on preparations for next week’s Champions League action.

The two-time defending champions have nine points from five games and now see their second spot under threat from the chasing pack while leaders Bordeaux, on ten points, can pull further ahead as they travel to lowly Guingamp today.

It was a third draw in three outings for PSG who had opened the scoring two minutes before the break through a rare goal from defender Zoumana Camara. But a slipup by Camara allowed the hosts get a share of the points as Cameroon striker Paul-Georges Ntep got one past PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu after 55 minutes. The visitors only had one other clear chance on goal through Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the first half. “I would have preferred not to score and to win the match,” admitted Camara. “It’s not worrying. It’s a draw. There’s nothing alarming about that. Now we have to recover because the Champions League is Wednesday. It’s going to be something else, that’s for sure.”

Laurent Blanc’s side now have a busy schedule with six more games in the next three weeks, with their Champions League campaign beginning at Ajax next Wednesday.

“We really wanted to score a second goal but everything was against us,” said Blanc with skipper Thiago Silva still sidelined while David Luiz suffered a knee knock playing for Brazil and Serge Aurier needs extra tests after losing consciousness during a clash of heads playing for the Ivory Coast. Rennes move up to third, a point behind PSG.

Lyon, meanwhile, got back to winning ways on Friday with a 2-1 home win against Monaco. Nabil Fekir opened the scoring after 30 minutes for the hosts before Lucas Ocampos equalised nine minutes later.

Corentin Tolisso’s goal after 73 minutes ended a three-game losing streak for new coach Hubert Fournier, as Monaco sit 16th after five games, ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game at home against Bayer Leverkusen.

The win lifted Lyon to 12th place, four points behind leader Bordeaux, as they prepare to play at Paris Saint-Germain next week.

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