PSG 0-0 Nice: 5 talking points as Parisians drop points in frustrating stalemate | Ligue 1 2021-22

PSG dropped points in a lacklustre performance against Nice in Ligue 1, in a goalless draw at the Parc des Princes.

The league leaders struggled to break down a stubborn Eaglets side, while also seeing two excellent chances squandered by Kylian Mbappe. Without Neymar, who suffered a serious ankle injury in their last game, the Parisians had their task cut out.

However, despite keeping 71% of the ball, completing twice as many passes, and mustering 22 shots (five on target), Mauricio Pochettino's side couldn't find a breakthrough.

This was only the third time PSG have dropped points in the league this season. They still boast a commanding 12-point lead at atop the Ligue 1 table. On that note, here are the five major talking points from the game:

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#5 PSG's perfect home record comes to an end against Nice

PSG dropped points at home for the first time this season.

Not all was well at PSG entering the game. But considering their perfect home record in Ligue 1 this season thus far, three points seemed guaranteed against Nice.

However, the Parisians could only draw the game. It marked the first time they failed to win at the Parc des Princes in the league this campaign.

It wasn't for lack of trying, though. However, a combination of stoic Nice defending and wastefulness from some of the PSG stars kept the hosts from finding a breakthrough.

In the process, PSG's perfect home record this season drew to a disappointing close. But it was still the longest they've managed since the start of a season since the 2018-19 campaign.

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#4 No Ballon d'Or victory celebration for Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi failed to score in Ligue 1 again.

Lionel Messi won his seventh Ballon d'Or on Monday, with the Argentine ace showing the golden ball to PSG fans before kick-off. Much was expected from him after winning the coveted prize, but Messi was instead left frustrated by a resolute Nice backline.

He had his moments in the game. Messi twisted and turned Nice's defence inside out with eye-catching dribbles, and also sliced them open a few times with incisive through-balls.

However, PSG's failure to convert those chances left Lionel Messi without an assist or goal to celebrate following his crowning moment at the start of the week.

#3 Nice end 17-game streak of conceding against PSG

Nice boarded the bus back home with a deserved point.

Despite only taking a point, Nice celebrated their first clean sheet against PSG since February 2012, when the two sides played out a goalless draw.

In the next 17 games, the Eaglets enjoyed little success against the Ligue 1 giants, losing 13 times and drawing twice.

Their only big moment in this fixture in the last decade was a stunning 3-1 victory at home in April 2017. But given the sheer quality of PSG, spearheaded by none other than Messi, this draw would feel like a win for Christophe Galtier's side.

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#2 Mbappe leaves his shooting boots at home

Mbappe's misfiring run continued.

It's no secret that Kylian Mbappe has been utterly wasteful in the league in PSG's last few games. The trend unfortunately continued last night, as the star missed two great chances.

In the first half, the 22-year-old couldn't shoot strongly enough despite being in a good position inside the box. Eventually, Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez got down well enough to parry Mbappe's effort away.

However, Mbappe's second miss was truly shocking. Messi laid him another delicious through-ball to latch onto from a prime position. But the No.7 inexplicably sliced his effort wide.

On nine occasions out of ten, he would've buried both chances. But given his rough patch of form right now, PSG were left with their hands on their heads with Mbappe's wastefulness again.

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#1 Pressure mounting on Mauricio Pochettino

Is Mauricio Pochettino's job really under threat?

This was only the third time PSG have dropped points in Ligue 1 this season, and they remain a whopping 12 points clear atop the league table.

Sounds like everything's fine and dandy, right? Wrong! While the Parisians might be cruising in the league, their performances lately haven't been convincing enough.

Failure to win their last two Champions League games, including a 2-1 loss to Manchester City, has condemned the side to second place in Group A. That has opened up the prospect of a tough last-16 matchup for PSG.

All that is heaping the pressure on PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino as rumours of a potential return to the Premier League simply refuse to go away.