Nantes 3-1 PSG: 5 talking points as hosts score thrice in first half to stun league leaders | Ligue 1 2021-22

Neymar scored the consolation goal for PSG against Nantes.

PSG were humbled in Ligue 1 on Saturday against Nantes, who secured a 3-1 win at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Antoine Kombouare's men scored thrice in the first half as the league leaders struggled to contain their inspired hosts.

Mauricio Pochettino's side opened the game with an early attempt on goal. Neymar combined well with Juan Bernat only for his effort to be saved by Alban Lafont. Nantes hit back with blistering pace on the counter, with Kolo Muani putting his team in the lead in the fourth minute.

🔚 Full time! Two-goal big win for @FCNantes at home!

#FCNPSG https://t.co/MR45lP0DbG

PSG failed to make their chances count, and missed quite a few sitters in the game. It seems they did not recover in time from their tough UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Nantes had a player sent off only to see the red card overturned on VAR review. Dennis Appiah was booked for a foul on Kylian Mbappe. He brought down the PSG ace in the box, but escaped a second booking, a decision that didn't go down well for the visiting side.

It was only PSG's second loss of the season, and they still maintain a healthy 13-point lead atop the standings. With Nantes securing their second win in a row, we take a look at the five talking points from the game:

#5 PSG unable to deal with Nantes' pace throughout the game

PSG conceded two goals to counter-attacks.

Nantes lined up with Moses Simon and Randal Kolo Muani up front against PSG. The two players were very quick on their feet, and tormented Les Parisiens' full-backs throughout the game.

For the first goal, the duo combined well on the counter down the left flank. With the full-backs pushed up ahead in attack, the league leaders were caught off-guard.

For the second, it was the turn for the speedy wing-backs to combine. Osman Bukari raced into a good position down the right flank. Quentin Merlin, who started out as a striker before shifting to left-back, displayed his fine finishing skills. He struck Bukari's first-time cut-back to rifle his shot into the top right corner of goal.

There were similar instances where the visiting side committed too many men forward. However, they escaped conceding another goal only due to some poot finishing by the hosts.

#4 Neymar scores in his first league game of the year, but fails to impress

Neymar reduced PSG's deficit to two goals with a second-half strike.

Neymar scored on his return to Ligue 1 action after a lengthy injury spell. He picked up an assist in the Champions League in midweek, so he seems to be in good touch.

Well, his performance for most of the game suggested otherwise. His 47th-minute goal provided a glimpse of his great individual quality. He latched onto Lionel Messi's precise pass, cut inside to his right foot and thumped his shot into the near post.

3 - This is only the 3rd time that Paris have conceded at least 2 goals before the 20th minute of a Ligue 1 match under QSI after May 2012 against Valenciennes (4-3 for PSG in the end) and January 2020 against Monaco (3-3). Fog. #FCNPSG https://t.co/hkPW86fQjW

Only 11 minutes later, the visiting side earned a penalty when Kylian Mbappe went down in the box following Dennis Appiah's challenge. As Messi had missed a penalty against Real Madrid, Neymar got the nod from the spot. However, his weak effort was easily saved by Lafont as the Brazilian failed to reduce the visitors' deficit.