🇫🇷 PSG reserves dig deep to beat Châteauroux in Coupe de France | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain beat Châteauroux 3-1 in the Coupe de France Round of 64 on Friday to stay alive in the competition.

Scorers: Ntolla 37′; Ekitike 13′, Soler 78′, Bernat 90+1′

Manager Christophe Galtier fielded a heavily rotated starting lineup for this Coupe de France clash with Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti, Gianluigi Donnarumma and the like unavailable.

As a result, teenagers were handed the job, and the opener came at the hands of PSG when Ismaël Gharbi teed up Hugo Ekitike and his outside-of-the-boot strike beat goalkeeper Paul Delecroix.

Châteauroux were then kept on their toes, and a diving Delecroix prevented Gharbi from doubling the lead.

However, the hosts caught the visitors flatfooted over time and made the most of their opportunity when it arrived.

Nolan Roux and Natanael Ntolla cut through PSG’s defence, and a deflection sent the ball beyond a wrong-footed Keylor Navas for 1-1.

Coming out into the second half, the match remained tense as both sides hunted for a second goal. Raucous Châteauroux fans cheered their club on in hopes of knocking out the French giants.

Delecroix continued to be the difference-maker between the sticks, but even with a much-changed side, PSG proved too much for the hosts.

The goalkeeper made a strong save with roughly 10 minutes to go, only for the ball to fall to Carlos Soler, and the Spaniard drilled it home for 2-1 before Juan Bernat added a third to ensure PSG moved on.