Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said his players are dealing with a lot of negativity but “must keep thinking positive” after the 0-0 draw in Auxerre.
The French leaders dominated but dropped points for a third game in a row following a 1-1 draw at home to second-placed Nantes on November 30 and a 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League four days earlier.
“We had 25 chances,” observed Enrique RMC Sport. “Auxerre was the (bottom) team at home. We will listen to the criticism.
“We will not lose our faith. We will continue (persist). The people behind us are so negative, but I’m happy with the team. We have to keep thinking positively.”
👏 As always, thanks to our supporters for making the trip.
See you on Tuesday. ❤️💙#AJAPSG I @Ligue1_ENG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 6, 2024
Auxerre vs PSG
PSG have now gone almost four hours of football without an away goal, although midfielder Vitinia came close to a breakthrough when he fired against the post with 21 minutes remaining at the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps.
Enrique sent on forwards Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani in the second half, but Gianluigi Donnarumma had to save Hamed Traore’s shot and almost gave Auxerre a goal in a mix-up with Marquinhos.
The reigning champions are unbeaten in their opening 14 league games and eight points clear of Marseille, Lille and Monaco.
Donovan Léon, the hero of Auxerre 🦸🇬🇫
❌ Clean sheet against PSG
🧤 11 saves
✋ 2.46 goals prevented
🥵 2 high claims pic.twitter.com/35o7pLW14Z— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 6, 2024
Donovan Leon breaks records
Home hero Donovan Leon made 11 saves for the eighth-placed side – the most since the stats began in 2006/07 by any Ligue 1 goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the process.
Bartlomiej Dragowski is the only player to better that record in Europe’s top five leagues, making 17 saves against Atalanta in April 2019 during his spell at Italian side Empoli.
In his first season as first choice for the club he spent 10 years with over two spells, French Guianese Leon had helped Auxerre win their previous four home games, conceding once along the way.
11 – Number of saves made by a goalkeeper in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season:
13 – Mands Hermansen (Leicester) – Arsenal in September
11 – Nediljko Labrovic (Augsburg) – Bayern in November
11 – Donovan Léon (Auxerre) – Paris SG tonight 🆕Wall. #AJAPSG pic.twitter.com/u5KaN6QrLP
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 6, 2024
Salzburg – PSG
PSG’s visit to Austrian rivals Salzburg on Tuesday (8pm GMT) could be crucial to their chances of Champions League qualification after a faltering early campaign.
The 2019/20 finalists are in the automatic relegation places with three games remaining, two points off the 16 places that would send them into the play-offs to reach the knockout stages.
“The goalkeeper was very strong today,” Enrique said. “We want to assert our superiority. I don’t have the magic formula, but it will come.”
