Désiré Doué suffers yet another injury as PSG drop points once again

PSG's indifferent domestic form continued as they struggled to a 1-1 draw away at lowly Lorient last night in the French top flight. PSG went into the game one point clear at the top of Ligue Un, but it was another difficult evening for the French Champions, who suffered their third draw in four league games.

PSG held to disappointing draw while losing Désiré Doué on injury

Luis Enrique opted for heavy rotation in his starting line-up, perhaps with one eye on next Tuesday's Champions League clash vs Bayern Munich. Lucas Beraldo, Senny Mayulu, Warren Zaire-Emery, Ibrahim Mbaye and Quentin Ndjantou all started for the Parisians, who left a number of first team players on the bench. Perhaps the Parisians paid the price for this heavy rotation, as they struggled to create any clear cut opportunities in the first half, their best chances coming when Nuno Mendes and later Mbaye tried their luck from outside the box, but failed to really test Yvon Mvogo, in goal for Rennes.

After the break, PSG finally found a breakthrough, as Desiré Doué's cross was met by Mendes, whose initial header was saved but who managed to fire home the rebound. The Portuguese full back has been in brilliant form this season, this already being his fourth goal of a campaign in which he's often proven to be the difference maker in difficult moments for PSG.

This lead, however, was short lived, as two minutes later a loose ball dropped to Lorient's Igor Carioca at the edge of the box, and he fired emphatically past Lucas Chevalier. This encapsulates PSG's defensive issues this season: they do have the best defensive record in the league, having only conceded nine goals, but there is still an undoubted sense that they are easy to get at - this combined with their somewhat timid attack (they have been outscored by four other Ligue Un teams, although they have admittedly been much more free flowing in the Champions League) means that there is a sense that they still have an extra gear to go to domestically.

A few minutes after Lorient restored parity, substitute Vitinha nearly restored the away side's lead, with a brilliantly controlled volley that was well kept out by Mvogo. Fellow sub Barcola also tested the goalkeeper with a near post strike that the shotstopper did well to parry wide. PSG's last chance of the game, Vitinha's long range effort that dipped over the crossbar, was the story of the game for the Parisians: they were simply unable to break down Lorient's deep defensive block and therefore were obliged to shoot from distance, something that will annoy Luis Enrique.

The game was further marred by the aforementioned thigh injury suffered by Doué, who was only just returning from his previous fitness setback. The Frenchman made for a sorry sight as he was stretchered off the pitch, and PSG fans will truly hope that the injury isn't as bad as it first appeared, although there seems little doubt that Doué will miss at least a few more weeks of football.

Despite this dissapointing night of football, the Parisians remain top of the table, as defeat for Lens and draws for Lyon and Marseille meant that none of the sides were able to overtake them. PSG look ahead now to a couple of home games, as they take on Nice on Saturday in Ligue Un, before hosting Bavarian giants Bayern Munich next Tuesday in what promises to be an excellent Champions League clash.