Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to go seven points clear of Lyon after blowing a two-goal lead at Saint-Etienne.
Javier Pastore and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had put the visitors in front at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, but an own goal by Alex gave Les Verts hope just before the break.
The hosts were rewarded for their play by a fine effort from the right boot of Francois Clerc.
Both teams had chances to go on and win the game but the draw was a fair result.
You can read how all the action unfolded with us below.
Evening all. Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of Ligue 1. Tonight we're at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for Saint-Etienne's home encounter with Paris Saint-Germain.
Let's not waste any time in giving you the teams for tonight. We'll start with the visitors...
PSG: Sirigu; Jallet, Alex, Silva, Maxwell; Chantome, Beckham, Matuidi, Pastore; Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi
SAINT-ETIENNE: Ruffier; Clerc, Perrin, Sall, Brison; Lemoine, Guilavogui, Cohade; Aubameyang, Brandao, Mollo
The big news is that David Beckham starts for the visitors. Tonight will hold extra-special importance, as it is the very ground where he saw red for England against Argentina some 15 years ago. Will he he be exorcising some demons tonight? We'll soon be finding out...
The hosts are on a run of nine games unbeaten in Ligue 1 and are challenging Marseille for third sot. A win tonight will see them step into the Champions League placings.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic bagged a brace against Nancy, taking his tally to 24 goals in 25 games, to see PSG win their last match.
The hosts won the reverse fixture at the Parc des Princes, inflicting the first defeat upon PSG this season.
Les Parisiens were also sent crashing out of the Coupe de la Ligue at the hands of Saint-Etienne, losing out 5-3 on penalties.
Ancelotti's side have also lost their last two fixtures on their travels to Sochaux and Reims respectively.
The hosts get the game underway...
Neither side have made a particularly strong start. PSG have seen more of the ball, but they are yet to do anything with it.
Mollo's corner is flicked towards the back post but Sirigu manages to get both hands around the ball. Early danger from a set piece for PSG, but dealt with reasonably well.
Beckham floats a beautiful pass out wide, spreading the play to Van der Wiel. The Dutchman tries to get down the outside, but runs the ball too far and Saint-Etienne have a goal kick.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 0-1 PSG (Pastore)
A terrible error by Bayal Sall gifts the Argentine the opportunity to open the scoring, and he makes no mistake as he lifts the ball delicately over Ruffier. Lovely finish, but Sall should have put the into Row Z.
Matuidi and Ibrahimovic played a give-and-go that saw Pastore running through on goal, but the centre-back had more than enough time to clear the ball from danger. It's a costly error that he has been punished for. PSG lead!
The visitors have settled by far the quicker. They're knocking the ball about nicely and Saint-Etienne just haven't got to grips with them yet.
That's the first goal Saint-Etienne have conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes of any game this season. It underlines their slow start this evening.
PENALTY TO PSG!
Lavezzi runs through on goal and Ruffier comes out to challenge him but misses the ball. The Argentine leaves his leg out inviting contact and the referee points to the spot. Hmm...
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 0-2 PSG (Ibrahimovic)
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The Swede slams the ball past Ruffier, but the referee orders a retake. However, that does not deter him, as this time he chips down the middle of the goal to double the visitors' advantage. Les Verts have a mountain to climb now.
Lavezzi could easily have avoided contact with Ruffier, who was shown a yellow card for the offence. I'd be disappointed if I were a Saint-Etienne fan.
PSG well in control of this match, but the home side are having their first real spell of sustained possession. Les Parisiens are closing down with gusto, however.
CHANCE! Lemoine lofts the ball over the PSG defence towards Brandao, who brings it down on his chest as he bears down on goal. However, a poor touch sees the ball run away from him before being put behind for a corner.
Saint-Etienne have now got into the game and are making a contest of it. Galtier will be frustrated that it's taken them going two down before the engine finally starts revving.
PSG are keeping their shape well, although the hosts are beginning to find pockets of space. Les Parisiens are a real threat on the counter, though.
CHANCE! Lovely ball swung in from the right by Clerc finds the head of Aubameyang but he fluffs his lines. Chance goes begging.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 1-2 PSG (Brandao)
Aubameyang is now on the other end as he puts the ball in from the right byline, but Alex was caught on his heels. He was waiting for the ball to reach him on the edge of his six yard box, allowing Brandao to steel in the bundle the ball home. Criminal defending.
The goal has officially gone down as an Alex own goal. It was he who was at fault. My apologies to Mr Jallet.
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Replays clearly show that it was in fact Alex who got the final touch to send it past Sirigu. Horrible defending all round.
For all PSG's early poise they have allowed the hosts right back into this game. Galtier's men have grown in stature and are now the dominant force.
HALF TIME: Saint-Etienne 1-2 PSG
Well there you have it, PSG lead at half time but it's game well and truly on. The visitors started much the stronger but Les Verts got their act together and now trail by just the one goal.
It looked like we could be in for an anti-climax after Ibrahimovic's penalty had put PSG 2-0 up. Thankfully, that has not been the case.
Two delightful finishes for PSG this evening, even if the second was a penalty. Pastore capitalised on Sall's dallying and showed plenty of composure in dinking the ball over the advancing Ruffier. Then Ibra's 'Panenka' chip... just beautiful.
PSG had the larger chunk of possession in the first half with 55%. They have only had two efforts on goal for all that pressure though, scoring with both. The hosts have shied at goal five times, hitting the target with just the one. And that was an own goal by Alex. Must do better if they want to get anything from this game.
The players are making their way back onto the pitch for the second half. There's more goals in there, I can feel it. Must warn you though, I have been wrong before...
PSG get the second half underway...
The visitors have began this half as they did the last. Still not much penetration in attack, though. Maxwell has a drive at goal but he's way off target.
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Mollo goes searching for Brandao inside the area but the ball goes behind for a goal kick. Saint-Etienne warming up again now, as Clerc tries to get down the right but to no avail.
Sall tries to atone for his previous error but his drive at goal bobbles harmlessly wide from all of 35 yards. He was never going to trouble Sirigu there, you could just see as he was shaping to shoot that the confidence was lacking.
Alex is the next name into the book for trying to get Lemoine booked for a harmless foul on Chantome.
SAINT-ETIENNE SUBSTITUTION: Mathieu Bodmer comes on to replace Fabien Lemoine.
CHANCE! PSG only half clear Mollo's corner, and he gets another chance to deliver, this time finding the head of Brandao... but he heads over the bar. He perhaps should have done better after climbing so much higher than Thiago Silva.
CHANCE! Clerc drives the ball into the box and it nearly falls kindly for Bodmer! Beckham slid in crucially to put it behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Van der Wiel's cross is headed away by Perrin, but only as far as Pastore. The Argentine drives at goal, but it was always rising. He should have worked Ruffier from just inside the box.
Chances at both ends, but it's still as you were since the break. For how much longer is anyone's guess. It's really good action at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
PSG SUBSTITUTION: Christophe Jallet replaces Clement Chantome.
SAINT-ETIENNE SUBSTITUTION: Romain Hamouma comes on to replace Yohan Mollo.
SAVE! Great stop by Sirigu to deny Aubameyang! He was fed by Brandao and shimmied past Van der Wiel before unleashing a shot at the Italian's near post, but he reacted well to palm behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Saint-Etienne caught out by a long punt down field. Ibrahimovic runs onto it and you expect to see the net ripple, but he skews his shot horribly wide. Let off for the hosts!
There was an audibly sigh of relief after the Swede's shot his the advertising boards. That was a big chance to perhaps kill this game.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 2-2 PSG (Clerc)
What a goal by Clerc! Such skill and technique from a full-back is not always on display. He used the outside of his right boot to bend the ball past Sirigu and into the top corner. You could watch that all night long! We're level at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard!
That missed Ibrahimovic chance looks like a possible turning point now. Two crucial moments in the game separated by a matter of a few minutes.
PSG SUBSTITUTION: Kevin Gameiro comes on to replace Ezequiel Lavezzi.
SAINT-ETIENNE SUBSTITUTION: Faouzi Ghoulam comes on to replace Jonathan Brison.
The hosts look by far the more likely to score a third goal. Though they must guard against throwing everybody forward, as demonstrated by how easily PSG were able to unlock their defence for Ibrahimovic's missed opportunity.
PSG are doing a bit of attacking, but nothing is coming of it. Saint-Etienne have defended rather astutely for the majority of the evening. Sall's hiccup for Pastore's opener aside.
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Ibrahimovic wins a free kick just outside Saint-Etienne's area. Could be a decent chance for Beckham to make a name for himself in the French capital here...
Close... but not close enough. Ruffier had it covered, but it had him worried for a second.
Three minutes have been added on at the end of this match.
Another free kick for PSG as Sall brings down Gameiro. Beckham has another chance to produce something special. It looks a more favourable range for him as well...
He strikes it into the wall and the ball deflects out for a corner.
FULL TIME: Saint-Etienne 2-2 PSG
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
