• PSG PLAYER RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7. Didn’t have much to do during the 90 minutes but confident whenever called upon, stopping Kluivert well. Saved Delort’s penalty despite the striker getting plenty of power on it but was unlucky not to stop Amine Gouiri’s. AFP
    PSG PLAYER RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7. Didn’t have much to do during the 90 minutes but confident whenever called upon, stopping Kluivert well. Saved Delort’s penalty despite the striker getting plenty of power on it but was unlucky not to stop Amine Gouiri’s. AFP
  • Colin Dagba – 6. Attacked well at times but struggled to deal with Kluivert’s bursts forward and was booked for a cynical foul on the Dutchman. AFP
    Colin Dagba – 6. Attacked well at times but struggled to deal with Kluivert’s bursts forward and was booked for a cynical foul on the Dutchman. AFP
  • Thilo Kehrer – 6. Defended well in the first half and made an important intervention to reach Lotomba’s cross ahead of Dolberg. Booked for a late challenge on Amavi. Headed wide from a promising position. AFP
    Thilo Kehrer – 6. Defended well in the first half and made an important intervention to reach Lotomba’s cross ahead of Dolberg. Booked for a late challenge on Amavi. Headed wide from a promising position. AFP
  • Presnel Kimpembe – 7. Stopped Thuram’s dinked pass with a header on the stretch and looked solid when needed. Unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line. AFP
    Presnel Kimpembe – 7. Stopped Thuram’s dinked pass with a header on the stretch and looked solid when needed. Unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line. AFP
  • Nuno Mendes – 7. Oversold himself to allow Boudaoui to skip past him and create a big chance, but largely defended well outside of that. Unlucky not to see anyone get on the end of some dangerous balls into the box. Reuters
    Nuno Mendes – 7. Oversold himself to allow Boudaoui to skip past him and create a big chance, but largely defended well outside of that. Unlucky not to see anyone get on the end of some dangerous balls into the box. Reuters
  • Ander Herrera – 6. Selflessly set up Verratti for what should have been a goal and patrolled the midfield area well, cleaning up in important positions at times. Reuters
    Ander Herrera – 6. Selflessly set up Verratti for what should have been a goal and patrolled the midfield area well, cleaning up in important positions at times. Reuters
  • Marco Verratti – 8. Shot wide from a promising position, but was reliable defensively and found Messi in the box with a pinpoint pass. Moved the ball brilliantly in the second half and saw a shot deflected behind after showing ingenuity to find space in the box. Showed nerves of steel with his casual penalty. AFP
    Marco Verratti – 8. Shot wide from a promising position, but was reliable defensively and found Messi in the box with a pinpoint pass. Moved the ball brilliantly in the second half and saw a shot deflected behind after showing ingenuity to find space in the box. Showed nerves of steel with his casual penalty. AFP
  • Danilo Pereira – 7. Booked for a foul on Kluivert, but often looked assured in his defensive work and drove up the pitch well at times. His flicked header created Mbappe’s late chance. AFP
    Danilo Pereira – 7. Booked for a foul on Kluivert, but often looked assured in his defensive work and drove up the pitch well at times. His flicked header created Mbappe’s late chance. AFP
  • Lionel Messi – 6. There were times where he showed real quality, while there were others in which he was dispossessed too easily. Hit a shot straight at Bulka after getting the ball stuck underneath his feet. Couldn’t quite carve Nice open with his play. Coolly tucked away his penalty. AFP
    Lionel Messi – 6. There were times where he showed real quality, while there were others in which he was dispossessed too easily. Hit a shot straight at Bulka after getting the ball stuck underneath his feet. Couldn’t quite carve Nice open with his play. Coolly tucked away his penalty. AFP
  • Mauro Icardi – 4. Completely anonymous for much of his time on the pitch and couldn’t get on the end of some good balls into the box. Reuters
    Mauro Icardi – 4. Completely anonymous for much of his time on the pitch and couldn’t get on the end of some good balls into the box. Reuters
  • Julian Draxler – 6. Had promising moments in the first half and was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide. Pretty quiet in the second period. His penalty crept through Bulka. EPA
    Julian Draxler – 6. Had promising moments in the first half and was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide. Pretty quiet in the second period. His penalty crept through Bulka. EPA
  • SUBS: Leandro Paredes (Herrera, HT) – 5. Couldn’t find a teammate when PSG had the ball in a dangerous area. Hit a clean strike that was saved well at the very end of the match. Saw his penalty saved. Reuters
    SUBS: Leandro Paredes (Herrera, HT) – 5. Couldn’t find a teammate when PSG had the ball in a dangerous area. Hit a clean strike that was saved well at the very end of the match. Saw his penalty saved. Reuters
  • Kylian Mbappe (Icardi, 64’) – 6. Had promising moments but sent a shot spinning horribly off his boot after having one blocked. Hit the crossbar from a tight angle in injury time. Scored his penalty despite Bulka going the right way. AFP
    Kylian Mbappe (Icardi, 64’) – 6. Had promising moments but sent a shot spinning horribly off his boot after having one blocked. Hit the crossbar from a tight angle in injury time. Scored his penalty despite Bulka going the right way. AFP
  • Juan Bernat (Mendes, 80’) – N/R. Got Mbappe into a good position with a nice flick and did well to get away from Brahimi outside his own box. Sent a brilliant penalty into the top corner. AFP
    Juan Bernat (Mendes, 80’) – N/R. Got Mbappe into a good position with a nice flick and did well to get away from Brahimi outside his own box. Sent a brilliant penalty into the top corner. AFP
  • Xavi Simons (Dagba, 80’) – N/R. Drifted into good positions and got some nice touches on the ball, but couldn’t produce anything that threatened Nice. Saw his penalty saved by Bulka in the game’s decisive moment. AFP
    Xavi Simons (Dagba, 80’) – N/R. Drifted into good positions and got some nice touches on the ball, but couldn’t produce anything that threatened Nice. Saw his penalty saved by Bulka in the game’s decisive moment. AFP
  • NICE PLAYER RATINGS: Marcin Bulka – 8. Coming up against his parent club, Bulka didn’t get the chance to make too many saves in the 90 minutes but kept his concentration to deny Paredes’ late strike. Got down to his right to save Paredes’ penalty, was unlucky not to stop Draxler’s and did well to keep out Simons’ effort to win the shootout. AFP
    NICE PLAYER RATINGS: Marcin Bulka – 8. Coming up against his parent club, Bulka didn’t get the chance to make too many saves in the 90 minutes but kept his concentration to deny Paredes’ late strike. Got down to his right to save Paredes’ penalty, was unlucky not to stop Draxler’s and did well to keep out Simons’ effort to win the shootout. AFP
  • Jordan Lotomba – 6. Came agonisingly close to finding Dolberg with a cross and defended well in the first half. Struggled a bit in the second, with Mendes beating him to get a good cross into the box. AFP
    Jordan Lotomba – 6. Came agonisingly close to finding Dolberg with a cross and defended well in the first half. Struggled a bit in the second, with Mendes beating him to get a good cross into the box. AFP
  • Dante – 7. Comfortable on the ball, even when being pressed. Stepped in well to steal the ball away from Draxler in the box and did the same when it looked as though Messi would let a shot off. Scored with a Panenka in the penalty shootout. EPA
    Dante – 7. Comfortable on the ball, even when being pressed. Stepped in well to steal the ball away from Draxler in the box and did the same when it looked as though Messi would let a shot off. Scored with a Panenka in the penalty shootout. EPA
  • Jean-Clair Todibo – 8. Blocked a threatening shot from Draxler but couldn’t rise quite high enough to head in at the other end. Stupidly got booked for kicking the ball away in response to a free kick being given against him but went on to make some outstanding interventions in the final minutes. Wrongfooted Donnarumma with his penalty. AFP
    Jean-Clair Todibo – 8. Blocked a threatening shot from Draxler but couldn’t rise quite high enough to head in at the other end. Stupidly got booked for kicking the ball away in response to a free kick being given against him but went on to make some outstanding interventions in the final minutes. Wrongfooted Donnarumma with his penalty. AFP
  • Jordan Amavi – 7. Helped Kluivert break forward at times and looked solid defensively throughout. Got ahead of Kehrer to make a vital defensive header. Reuters
    Jordan Amavi – 7. Helped Kluivert break forward at times and looked solid defensively throughout. Got ahead of Kehrer to make a vital defensive header. Reuters
  • Hicham Boudaoui – 6. Provided a great run and pass to create a chance that Gouiri should have done better with. His battle with Mendes was an intriguing one. Struggled to have much of an attacking impact in the second half but worked hard defensively and was booked for a challenge on Verratti. Made a vital goalline clearance. AFP
    Hicham Boudaoui – 6. Provided a great run and pass to create a chance that Gouiri should have done better with. His battle with Mendes was an intriguing one. Struggled to have much of an attacking impact in the second half but worked hard defensively and was booked for a challenge on Verratti. Made a vital goalline clearance. AFP
  • Morgan Schneiderlin – 7. Did the basics well in the midfield to help ensure Nice weren’t overrun by PSG. Made some important interventions in his own box. Booked for dissent. Confidently converted the shootout’s opening penalty. AFP
    Morgan Schneiderlin – 7. Did the basics well in the midfield to help ensure Nice weren’t overrun by PSG. Made some important interventions in his own box. Booked for dissent. Confidently converted the shootout’s opening penalty. AFP
  • Khephren Thuram – 7. Confident on the ball and showed a good range of passing. He even nutmegged Draxler in his own half. On top of that, he helped out defensively but wasn’t quite as influential in the second half. AFP
    Khephren Thuram – 7. Confident on the ball and showed a good range of passing. He even nutmegged Draxler in his own half. On top of that, he helped out defensively but wasn’t quite as influential in the second half. AFP
  • Justin Kluivert – 7. Made some brilliant bursts forward and looked like causing danger whenever he did so. Unlucky not to find Dolberg with his cross into the box. Went through but closed his angle off and was denied by Donnarumma before having a shot blocked from a good position. EPA
    Justin Kluivert – 7. Made some brilliant bursts forward and looked like causing danger whenever he did so. Unlucky not to find Dolberg with his cross into the box. Went through but closed his angle off and was denied by Donnarumma before having a shot blocked from a good position. EPA
  • Kasper Dolberg – 6. Provided lots of good movement in and around the box but couldn’t quite be found to make the most of that. Helped his side out defensively at times (no match photo available). AFP
    Kasper Dolberg – 6. Provided lots of good movement in and around the box but couldn’t quite be found to make the most of that. Helped his side out defensively at times (no match photo available). AFP
  • Amine Gouiri – 6. Scuffed his shot after a good run from Boudaoui and sent a free kick straight at Donnarumma. Overdid it in possession at times in the first half and was booked for a foul on Herrera after overrunning the ball. Made a good pass to release Kluivert early in the second half. His penalty went through Donnarumma. AFP
    Amine Gouiri – 6. Scuffed his shot after a good run from Boudaoui and sent a free kick straight at Donnarumma. Overdid it in possession at times in the first half and was booked for a foul on Herrera after overrunning the ball. Made a good pass to release Kluivert early in the second half. His penalty went through Donnarumma. AFP
  • SUBS: Youcef Atal (Lotomba, 63’) – 6. Struggled against Mendes and was booked for a desperate lunge after the Portuguese full-back had got past him. Grew into the game and made some good interventions, as well as a great burst up the pitch. Scored his penalty confidently. AFP
    SUBS: Youcef Atal (Lotomba, 63’) – 6. Struggled against Mendes and was booked for a desperate lunge after the Portuguese full-back had got past him. Grew into the game and made some good interventions, as well as a great burst up the pitch. Scored his penalty confidently. AFP
  • Andy Delort (Dolberg, 63’) – 5. Had a heavy landing within seconds of his introduction before letting off a strike from range that was comfortably saved. Saw his powerful penalty saved. Reuters
    Andy Delort (Dolberg, 63’) – 5. Had a heavy landing within seconds of his introduction before letting off a strike from range that was comfortably saved. Saw his powerful penalty saved. Reuters
  • Bilal Brahimi (Boudaoui, 75’) – N/R. Almost dispossessed Bernat outside PSG’s box, then found Kluivert with a good pass on his debut (no match photo available). AFP
    Bilal Brahimi (Boudaoui, 75’) – N/R. Almost dispossessed Bernat outside PSG’s box, then found Kluivert with a good pass on his debut (no match photo available). AFP
  • Mario Lemina (Thuram, 75’) – N/R. Showed plenty of hustle in the middle but got away with kicking the ball away after committing a foul. Reuters
    Mario Lemina (Thuram, 75’) – N/R. Showed plenty of hustle in the middle but got away with kicking the ball away after committing a foul. Reuters
  • Evaan Guessand (Kluivert, 90’) – N/R. Made some good bursts forward but couldn’t quite find the final pass. Scored a brilliantly executed penalty. AFP
    Evaan Guessand (Kluivert, 90’) – N/R. Made some good bursts forward but couldn’t quite find the final pass. Scored a brilliantly executed penalty. AFP

PSG v Nice player ratings: Veratti 8, Messi 6, Icardi 4; Bulka 8, Kluivert 7


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Goalkeeper Marcin Bulka made two saves in the shootout as Nice eliminated holders Paris St Germain 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw in their last-16 French Cup tie on Monday.

Bulka is on loan at Nice from PSG and stopped efforts from Leandro Paredes and teenager Xavi Simons in the shootout to end PSG’s dominance in the cup, which they had won in six of the past seven seasons.

Nice will now host Marseille in the quarter-finals, after the draw was conducted earlier on Monday.

The home side laid siege to the Nice goal after an incident-free first half at the Parc des Princes and there were numerous chances in the second period for Julian Draxler, Mauro Icardi, Lionel Messi, Marco Verratti and Kylian Mbappe after he came on as a substitute.

But the closest PSG came was when defender Presnel Kimpembe had an effort cleared just short of the line as he almost steered a setpiece into the Nice goal in the 71st minute.

The visitors, who are second in the Ligue 1 standings behind the Parisian club, had two counter-attack chances for Justin Kluivert blocked.

In next week’s quarter-final, the two fourth division giant killers Bergerac and Versailles were drawn against each other while the other two ties sees a top flight team host Ligue 2 opposition. Nantes are home to Bastia and Monaco take on Amiens.

Updated: February 01, 2022, 4:11 AM