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Nantes
Ligue 1
Aug 25, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
PSG logo

1-2

Alex (52' og.)
FT(HT: 0-1)
Cavani (24'), Lavezzi (72')

Live Commentary: Nantes 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage from Stade de la Beaujoire, where Nantes host Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
2

Champions Paris Saint-Germain travelled to Nantes in the final match of the weekend in search of their first win of the season.

Les Canaris sat above the Parisiens prior to the match having won and lost a match before the encounter, whereas PSG had only managed two straight draws.

However, PSG were able to hold onto their lead in an entertaining match to win at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the final Ligue 1 match of the weekend which sees Nantes host Paris Saint-Germain.

These two sides couldn't meet in more diverse circumstances. One go into this match having just been promoted from Ligue 2 and will be relatively happy with three points out of a possible six so far this season, while the other are champions of the French top division and are bitterly disappointed to have only recorded two draws so far this campaign. Can you tell which is which?

Nantes are one of the great names in French football history, having been champions eight time as well as winning the Coupe de France on three occasions. They returned to the top flight after a four-year absence following their third-placed finish in Ligue 2 last season. They opened their account with a 2-0 home victory over Bastia despite being accused of fielding an ineligible player in the form of Abdoulaye Traore before going down 2-1 to Lorient having led away from home. Can they get any points off the champions in front of a sold out Stade de la Beaujoire.

PSG have failed to win either of their opening two matches for the third season in a row following draws with Montpellier HSC and Ajaccio. However, Laurent Blanc's side failed to record victory in any of their first three games last year and still managed to win the title with a 12-point margin, so the Parisiens won't be too worried. Despite that fact, PSG currently sit seven points behind leaders Marseille in the table, and will be desperate to close the gap.

Edinson Cavani rescued a point for the capital club last weekend at the Parc des Princes, in a match that saw them have 38 efforts on goal compared to Ajaccio's one. Guillermo Ochoa was to blame for the draw, so Nantes stopper Remy Riou has a real tough act to follow.

Right, let's get some team news.

NANTES XI: Riou, Bedoya, Djilobodji, Vizcarrondo, Cichero, Veigneau, Deaux, Veretout, Bessat, Djordjevic, Gakpe

So Nantes boss Michel Der Zakarian has made three changes to the side that threw away the lead to lose at Lorient last weekend. Issa Cissokho, Yohan Eudeline and Birama Toure have all been dropped while Alejandro Bedoya, Gabriel Cichero and Jordan Veretout have been drafted in.

Right, time for the champions.

PSG XI: Sirigu, Van der Wiel, Alex, Silva, Maxwell, Lavezzi, Motta, Matuidi, Pastore, Ibrahimovic, Cavani

Just one change made then by Laurent Blanc and that is to replace the missing Christophe Jallet with Dutch right-back Gregory Van der Wiel.

PSG are likely to play a 4-4-2 with Cavani and Ibrahimovic up top, and Pastore and Lavezzi on the flanks, while Nantes are looking as if they will field a 3-5-2 system.

The team are out onto the field in a Stade de La Beaujoire that is absolutely buzzing because of this sellout crowd. The atmosphere is electric.

Blaise Matuidi is playing despite suffering a nasty gash on his head last weekend. However, after several stitches, he will play today sporting a rugby scrum cap.

Just quickly, here are the substitute benches.

NANTES BENCH: Zelazny, Cissokho, Nkoudou, Toure, Trebel, Aristeguieta, Pancrate

PSG BENCH: Douchez, Digne, Marquinhos, Lucas, Rabiot, Verratti, Ongenda.

Nantes, wearing all yellow with green will get us underway. PSG are sporting their all blue strip with yellow and red bits on the shirt.

KICK OFF! Nantes get us underway, shooting from left to right.

Good start for Nantes, Bessat races down the left and puts in a decent cross which is caught by Sirigu. Encouraging starts which gets the crowd behind them.

As you would have expected, PSG have had all of the early possession, and are very casual in knocking it about.

SAVE! What brilliant goalkeeping from Riou. Motta floats a ball from the centre which lands on the right side of the penalty area with Ibrahimovic. He allows it to bounce before hitting it first time, but Riou was quickly out to block the shot. Ibrahimovic is still awaiting his first goal of the season.

Nantes are really trying hard to win the ball back when not in possession which has made this game a very high tempo one so far. The crowd are cheering every tackle and interception by their side. Great support.

Van der Wiel appears to win the ball against Bessat, but comes in from behind and leaves him on his rear end and concedes the foul.

The free kick in was flicked on by the head of Ibrahimovic, but Sirigu had it comfortably covered.

PSG putting a lot of high pressure on Les Canaris when in control of the ball. Matuidi is almost operating in the hole behind the two strikers with the ball at his feet. At the moment though, Nantes seem happy to allow their opponents the ball.

Ibrahimovic flicks on a long ball into the path of the running Cavani on the right. The Uruguayan, who scored a belter last week, gets caught in two minds and lobs the ball onto the roof of the net when it looked as if he was going to try to pick out Matuidi in the middle.

Crucial block from Nantes there as Maxwell free in Ibrahimovic down the left flank. The Swede has tons of room and brings the ball to the edge of the box, he is looking for Cavani in the middle but his cross is blocked by Djilobodji at the near post. Great stop.

PSG have their first corner of the match as Ibrahimovic's cross is blocked. Great noise in the stadium.

Still all PSG at the moment, they are dominating the possession starts but apart from the Ibrahimovic shot they haven't had much in the way of chances.

GOAL! Nantes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Edinson Cavani)

That's two in two starts for the £55m man, Ibrahimovic picks up the ball in the centre of the Nantes half and threads a pass through to Cavani on the right who cooly slots the ball past an onrushing Riou. Could the combination work? It has done here.

That goal was a perfect example of how Cavani and Ibrahimovic can coexist. The latter dropped deep using his strength to hold off those around him before allowing Cavani to do the damage in front of goal. They could be lethal.

Nantes are giving it a real go but just cannot get anywhere near PSG.

PSG led 1-0 16 times last season in Ligue 1. They went on to win 23 of those, drew twice and endured just one defeat. Nantes have a real task on their hand.

YELLOW CARD Alejandro Bedoya goes into the book for a foul on Edinson Cavani.

Corner for Nantes, can they find a leveller? This could be a good a chance as they get.

It's really poor, Nantes waste it with an overhit cross that evades everyone and goes out for a throw on the left. They cannot afford to throw away opportunities like that.

PSG have two corners in quick succession which Cavani is proving to be a handful from with his positional play allowing him to flick on two headers. Nantes can escape for now though.

BLOCK! Nantes mount an attack where Djordjevic passes it into Bessat in the penalty area, who returns the ball with a lovely chip over the top. Djordjevic meets it with a volley on the left, but Van der Wiel makes a timely block which takes the sting out of the effort and falls into the hands of Sirigu.

This is a good spell from Nantes, what a time this would be to score. Certainly more encouraging for them.

CLOSE! Nantes are fractions away from an equaliser as PSG switch off. Bedoya picks up the ball on the edge of the D and prods a ball through centrally to Bessat who forces a great stop from Sirigu. Nantes corner.

SAVE! Nantes come inches away again! Cichero meets the corner with an overhead kick which forces a wonderful save from Sirigu. The rebound is there to be hammered in, but Van der Wiel makes an awesome block to prevent the equaliser. Nantes don't want to the half-time whistle to sound.

One minute to go.

HALF TIME: Nantes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Laurent Blanc will be really relieved to hear that half-time whistle because Nantes were all over his PSG side, who lead through an Edinson Cavani goal.

PSG dominated from the off until the final 10 minutes of the half where Nantes really gave it a go. The atmosphere in the Stade de la Beaujoire is unbelievable, and I cannot wait for this second half.

Time for some half-time stats.

Match statistics:
Nantes:
Shots 8
On target 4
Possession 37%
Corners 1
Fouls 5

Paris Saint-Germain:
Shots 4
On target 2
Possession 63%
Corners 3
Fouls 2


Both teams are coming back out onto the field, and you feel that there is still everything to play for.

KICK OFF! PSG, shooting to the right, get us back underway for this second half.

Nantes have appeared to have had better luck since switch to a 4-4-3 formation, the 3-5-2 that they started with really wasn't working. It's a good move by Michel Der Zakarian to change it when he did.

Deaux goes through the back of Motta as he tries to win the ball. PSG aren't happy with the tackle, but referee Fredy Fautrel says that there was no malice in the tackle.

Nantes have been awarded a free kick in a crossing position on the left after Van der Wiel blocked off Cichero. Good chance this for the hosts.

GOAL! Nantes 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Alex OG)

They've done it. Nantes are level. The ball was whipped in superbly by Veretout to the far post where a heap of bodies meet the ball from both sides. The ball rolls across the line and into the far corner of the net. Djordjevic and Djilobodji were both in there, but I think that Alex has been awarded an own goal. Fact of the matter is that Nantes are level.

PSG were so comfortable for the opening 35 minutes of this match, but since then Nantes have been brilliant, full of heart and deservedly have their leveller.

I think the goal could have been awarded to Djordjevic, but you can literally take your pick between him Djilobodji and Alex, everywhere is reporting different.

Another corner for Nantes, Bedoya takes it but Alex deals with it a lot better than he did the last delivery into the box.

SAVE! What a stop from Sirigu. A long cross was whipped in from the right where Bedoya meets the ball with a great header. Everyone thinks that Nantes are going ahead, but Sirigu somehow pushes the ball over the bar. Van der Wiel was left to mark two men then, and the one he didn't cover was Bedoya.

PSG hit Nantes on the break and have the numbers in their favour. Cavani whips in a low cross from the left to the edge of the six-yard box, but Riou and Djilobodji combine to clear away the danger. Frantic stuff.

This is anyone's game, and it is a great one at the moment.

Lucas is getting ready to come on for the visitors.

PSG CHANGE Lucas is on in place of Pastore. Blanc clearly wanting pace on the wings through Lavezzi and the Brazilian.

SAVE! Lavezzi races away from the defender down the left and looks to pull the ball back across. The ball is heading for the back of the net, but Riou is able to palm it behind at his near post for a corner.

Back to the substitution. Pastore, who has his critics, was seemingly invisible then. Didn't do much to silence his doubters, and his bad run continues.

Just over 20 minutes to go, and Nantes are dealing with everything that PSG are throwing at the for now. Can they earn a draw? Recent history suggests that it is not impossible.

Lucas has done well since coming on, really stretching Nantes. Still level at the moment though as the host's clear away a corner.

Verratti is coming on shortly for the champions.

GOAL! Nantes 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain (Ezequiel Lavezzi)

It's harsh on Nantes, but PSG were starting to get back on top. Ibrahimovic plays in Matuidi down the left of the box, who tries to square it to Cavani. It misses the forward by finds Lucas at the far post who drills a shot at goal. Cichero brilliantly clears the ball off the line, but it drops to Lavezzi, who smashes the ball into the roof of the net. Absolute ruckus.

CHANCE! Lavezzi causes havoc again down the left and crosses the ball towards Lucas on the far side. The Brazilian gets to it but skies his shot over the bar.

Cavani is currently down receiving some medical attention after taking a whack from a defender following his shot at goal. He looks as if he is going to be ok though but did appear to be in some pain for a while.

NANTES CHANGE Kevin Nkoudou is on for Vincent Bessat.

Ibrahimovic is now receiving some medical attention as Nantes prepare a double change.

NANTES CHANGES Serge Gakpe and Filip Djordjevic go off for Fernando Aristeguieta and Fabrice Pancrate.

PSG CHANGE In addition to bringing on Marco Verratti in place of Thiago Motta, Ezequiel Lavezzi has just made way for Adrien Rabiot.

It's worth noting that Pancrate, who had a brief spell at Newcastle United, played 95 times for PSG and scored 10 goals. Now he is looking to notch against them.

CHANCE! Real chance for Nantes as PSG very much have their backs to the wall. It's like a game of pinball in the PSG box, but it ends up with Nantes being awarded a corner.

CHANCE! Another great opportunity and this time a Thiago Silva last-ditch block denys Cichero. Another corner to come.

This second half is ending exactly how the first one did, with Nantes banging on the door. Can they find another equaliser?

CHANCE! Ibrahimovic very nearly put the game to bed there after shrugging off his marker on the left before drilling a shot across goal, but is just flies wide of the far post.

YELLOW CARD Van der Wiel goes into the book for bringing down Pancrate. Chance to cross it into the box for Nantes.

It comes to nothing and PSG can break, Cavani plays a pass over the top to Ibrahimovic out wide, but the Swede can't quite reach it.

Corner for Nantes in the final minute of normal time.

We'll have an addition four minutes. Can Nantes find an equaliser?

Verratti makes a crucial interception as Pancrate was about to fire a shot at goal from the edge of the box. PSG holding on.

Great chance for PSG to kill the game on the break and have a three on two advantage. Lucas squares it towards Ibrahimovic, but Cavani takes it off his feet and loses the ball.

FULL TIME: Nantes 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain

And that's that. PSG manage to hold on to record their first win of the season thanks to an Ezequiel Lavezzi winner after an Alex own goal had cancelled out Cavani's opener in the first half.

Nantes can take heart from their performance though and they probably deserved a draw. If they carry on playing like that for the rest of the season though, they will be fine in this division.

Let's bring you some full-time stats.

Match statistics:

Nantes:
Shots 12
On target 5
Possession 39%
Corners 7
Fouls 9

Paris Saint-Germain:
Shots 11
On target 6
Possession 61%
Corners 6
Fouls 13


With that match, PSG rise to eighth, while Nantes sit 12th.

That's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the match. Goodnight.

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Paris Saint-Germain's head coach Laurent Blanc looks on during a friendly football match between PSG and Hammarby IF at the Tele 2 Arena on July 23, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420


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