Mauricio Pochettino’s team were 3-0 down at halftime thanks to goals from Randal Kolo Muani, Quentin Merlin, and Ludovic Blas, despite the fact that all three members of PSG’s powerful forward line started in the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Neymar equalized 90 seconds into the second quarter, just before the game’s most contentious moment.
PSG’s Champions League star Mbappe was then scythed down in the penalty area by Nantes’ Dennis Appiah, who had been tricked by a smart change of direction by Mbappe.
Despite the fact that Lesage pointed to the spot, the referee controversially declined to give Appiah a second yellow card and consequent red card, much to the surprise of the PSG camp.
Following Messi’s failure to convert from 12 yards out against Real Madrid earlier in the week, it was Neymar’s turn to fumble his lines from the spot, with Nantes keeper Alban Lafont easily claiming his feeble effort.
In the final half-hour, neither team was able to add to the score, and PSG suffered only their second Ligue 1 defeat of the season.
Following the defeat, PSG president Leonardo did not hold back in expressing his displeasure with referee Lesage’s handling of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe in particular.
“Denis Appiah should have spotted the second yellow card on Mbappé’s penalty kick. According to Sport, Leonardo remarked, “A second yellow is, naturally, red and deportation.”
“In addition, the referee has stopped flagging many of our players for fouls.
“But no,” he added, “I don’t whistle anything because they’re Mbappé and Neymar.” I don’t whistle anything because they’re Messi and PSG.’
“I may be wrong. After losing, we accept defeat and learn from this.
“There are many mistakes, things we didn’t do well. But, with the referee, today it has been like a ‘poum poum poum, I’m shooting you.’
“Look at the images and then judge. We lost, but I’m talking about facts about the party that were very clear to me. But if you don’t agree, I respect it. It’s my opinion.”
His scathing assessment of Lesage’s refereeing performance was a view additionally shared by PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, who was equally as perplexed by some of the official’s decisions.
“How is it possible that he doesn’t take out a yellow [for Appiah]? It’s yellow, it’s red, it’s a penalty.
“Sometimes you have to take responsibility because there is one, but the referee has screwed us up.”
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