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PSG suffer 1st league loss in spirited clash with Lyon

Jean Catuffe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Paris Saint-Germain's chances of becoming the first side to complete a season in the French top flight without defeat ended Sunday.

Lyon bested the Ligue 1 leaders 2-1 at the Groupama Stadium in an engrossing tilt that featured dazzling saves and frenetic end-to-end play.

Angel Di Maria scored for the visitors inside of 10 minutes before Moussa Dembele's towering header leveled for Les Gones a dozen minutes before the interval. Nabil Fekir made it 2-1 from the penalty spot shortly after the break following a foul in the area by Thiago Silva.

With Neymar nursing his latest foot concern, PSG boss Thomas Tuchel opted for a 4-4-2 formation that did not feature a traditional midfielder. Julian Draxler and Marquinhos helmed the central midfield positions with Dani Alves and Di Maria out wide, and it proved an issue as Lyon's penetrative attacks met little resistance.

Credit Les Parisiennes 'keeper Alphonse Areola for mitigating disaster with nine saves, bettered only by the performance from his opposite, Anthony Lopes, who registered 10 saves.

Center-half Jason Denayer and right-back Leo Dubois were particularly good for a Lyon side who have proved adept at rising to the occasion after beating Premier League giants Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League in September.

PSG maintain a 10-point cushion on second-place Lille in the table, with the capital city club holding two games in hand. Lyon remain in third, now just three points adrift of Lille with 15 league matches remaining.

Seven-time successive Scudetto champs Juventus remain the only unbeaten side in Europe's top five leagues after Max Allegri's charges narrowly withstood a late push from Parma in Saturday's 3-3 draw.

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