Ligue 1
Sep 25, 2013 6.00pm
0
1
HT : 0 1
FT
  • David Ducourtioux 65' yellowcard
  • yellowcard Ezequiel Lavezzi 26'
  • yellowcard Marco Verratti 36'
  • yellowcard Lucas Digne 41'
  • goal Edinson Cavani 45'
  • yellowcard Adrien Rabiot 75'

Live Commentary: Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain - as it happened

Valenciennes 0-1 PSG - as it happened

Edinson Cavani's first-half strike was enough to give Paris Saint-Germain all three points against Valenciennes.

The home side had the majority of the chances in the first half, but the Uruguayan tapped in from close range moments before the break.

Valenciennes pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half, but were unable to find the target.

Read how all the action unfolded below:

7.54pmEdinson Cavani's goal is enough to send PSG back to the top of the Ligue 1 table, but Monaco can go back above them with the right result against Bastia. That's all from this game tonight, but stick around for live commentary from Monaco. Thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.
90+3 minFULL TIME: Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
90+3 minValenciennes have numbers forward, and force another corner, but PSG manage to get it clear. The visitors win a free kick, which Ibrahimovic takes his time over, but the hosts get it back again.
90 minCHANCE! Dossevi runs from deep inside the Valenciennes half to cross the ball in from the edge of the box for Le Tallec, but Dossevi's effort is put behind for a corner before the striker can get his outstretched foot to it.
88 minValenciennes are frantically passing the ball as they desperately seek a late equaliser, but PSG are defending well.
85 minSUB! The goalscorer, Cavani, goes off, as Thiago Motta comes on for the last five minutes.
85 minCHANCE! It's a wonderful strike from Le Tallec, as he expertly guides the ball up and over the wall. The ball is dipping under the crossbar, but just curls wide. Valenciennes were inches from being level.
84 minPSG appear to be putting all their resources into defending at the moment. Truthfully, the 1-0 lead flatters them, and they know they'll do well to leave here with all three points. However, Cavani has just given away another free kick on the box.
82 minSUB! The home side make their final change as Ducourtioux makes way for Aurelian Chitu.
78 minIbrahimovic leads PSG on the counter attack. He crosses in for Cavani, but the Uruguayan's finish is put wide for a corner. Ibrahimovic takes it, but the ball is calmly punched away by Penneyeau.
76 minRose attempts to lash it in from 20 yards out, but Verratti sprints from the wall to block the shot less than two yards from the defender's boot.
75 minBOOKING! Rabiot brings down Doumbia on the edge of the area, picking up a yellow card, and giving the hosts a free kick from a strong position.
74 minIbrahimovic tries to force his way down the wing, but loses possession in a battle with Kagelmacher, before Dossevi tries to take the ball down the other end on the counter attack.
72 minPSG are starting to keep the ball much better, as Valenciennes look to be tiring. Although the hosts are comfortably holding the ball in midfield, they're still lacking a bit of urgency up front.
69 minCHANCE! Ibrahimovic puts the ball in for Cavani, but he scuffs his shot, and it bobbles harmlessly wide for a goal kick.
68 minCHANCE! Pastore comes close to making it two for PSG with a drilled effort from just outside the box, but Penneteau watches it all the way.
66 minBOOKING! David Ducourtioux is shown a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Verratti.
65 minSUB! Maor Melikson, who has been kept pretty quiet tonight, heads off, with Anthony Le Tallec taking his place.
64 minSUB! Ezequiel Lavezzi makes way for Adrien Rabiot.
63 minPSG finally manage to get some solid possession, albeit just among the back four, but they really haven't had a prolonged spell on the ball in this second half. Digne manages to bring it out from the back, eventually looking for the cross, but Penneteau makes the stop.
60 minPENALTY APPEAL! The home side are continuing to push for an equaliser, and believe that they should have had the opportunity from the spot when Verrazzi clears the ball, claiming that the PSG midfielder used his hand, but the referee says otherwise.
58 minDigne picks up a knock following a collision with Lala. There was no foul, but the Valenciennes defender managed to land on Digne's shin.
55 minCavani makes a brilliant run at the Valenciennes box, before crossing for Lavezzi, but the midfielder is caught in two minds whether to take on the shot or play the ball back to Cavani, and gives Kagelmacher time to make the clearance.
53 minValenciennes have really come out fighting at the start of this second half. As well as applying some pressure inside the PSG box, some impressive defending by Kagelmacher is causing all sorts of problems for Ibrahimovic.
50 minLala makes a superb run down the right-hand side before brilliantly crossing into the box, but once again Penneteau is sharp, and makes the catch before Melikson, who was rushing into the box, can reach it.
48 minCHANCE! Valenciennes look to make an impact early on, and Marquihos has to but the ball behind for a corner. Rose gets a good header from around five yards out, but Penneteau just makes the save off the line.
46 minPSG get the second half underway.
7.03pmSUB! PSG are making a change ahead of the second half, with Alex making way for Zoumana Camara.
6.59pmIf you're interested in the matches elsewhere in Ligue 1 tonight, here are the half-time scores: Ajaccio 1-0 Lyon, Bordeaux 0-0 Reims, Guingamp 3-0 Sochaux, Nantes 1-0 Nice, Toulouse 0-0 Lorient Monaco will also be in action later tonight. They host Bastia in the 8pm kickoff.
6.56pmLet's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Cavani's late strike was the visitors' only effort on target in the opening period. They had four shots in total. The home side had seven effort, with two testing Sirigu. PSG just edged the possession with 55%.
6.53pmThe reigning Ligue 1 champions had looked pretty lethargic up until the Cavani goal, rarely pressing their opponents, and giving away cheap free kicks. Laurent Blanc still has work to do at half time if he is to see his side improve after the break.
6.51pmIt's a cruel end to the first half for Valenciennes, who had looked the better side for much of the opening 45 minutes. However, a late moment of brilliant by Ibrahimovic allowed Cavani an easy tap in to give PSG the lead just before the half-time whistle.
45+3 minHALF TIME: Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
45+2 minCavani has barely seen the ball in this first half, but a superb break by Ibrahimovic sees the Uruguayan pop up at close range to tap in the opening goal of the game.
45+2 minGOAL! Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-German (Cavani)
45 minSUB! Mater does indeed come off, with Saliou Ciss taking his place.
44 minPSG try to apply some pressure late in the first half, but Ibrahimovic's delivery into the box is comfortably taken by Penneteau. Meanwhile, Mater, who tried to continue following the Digne challenge appears to be coming off.
42 minBOOKING! Digne goes is high on Mater, catching the Valenciennes defender recklessly with his studs on his back. The move results in PSG's this booking of the first half.
40 minIbrahimovic clashes with Mater, resulting in a free kick for the hosts. The Swedish striker pleads his innocence with the referee, but he's not interest. Discipline has become a bit of a problem as this first half has gone on.
38 minCHANCE! The hosts are on the attack again, and Doumbia gets the ball deep inside the penalty area, but he doesn't have time to control it before it goes before for a goal kick.
36 minBOOKING! PSG carelessly give the ball away in midfield. Verratti tries to win it back, but the Italian charges into Doumbia, and is shown a yellow card.
32 minThere's absolutely no urgency in PSG's play at the moment. If they get the ball they'll go on the attack, but the visitors aren't chasing down their opponents, and it's allowing the hosts to get more confident.
29 minMelikson gets in a tangle with Ibrahimovic. The Valenciennes striker is left in pain on the ground as result of their battle. It doesn't look like there was a foul by the PSG talisman, but it's left the Valenciennes striker looking rather uncomfortable.
26 minBOOKING! The referee blows for a foul by Lavezzi inside the box in the build up to PSG's corner. The midfielder argues, believing that he'd done nothing wrong, but he earns himself a booking for his complaints. Looking at the replays, it does look like Lavezzi may have had a point.
25 minPSG up the tempo as they try to regain control of this match. Digne, who has played a very attacking role so far tonight, sends in a dangerous cross, which is knocked behind for the first corner of the match.
22 minCHANCE! Mater gets the better of Alex near the corner flag before curling the ball in for Dossevi. The striker rises for the header from point-blank range, but doesn't quite reach the ball. The slightest of contacts would have surely given Valenciennes the lead. They really have been superb in the last five minutes.
20 minValenciennes are just starting to find their way into this game. Yamissi makes a superb run from out wide to deliver a cross for Melikson, which is clearedm before Dossevi is bundled down on the edge of the box. Melikson takes the free kick, but PSG are able to clear the initial danger.
18 minDoumbia picks up the ball in a strong position, but is brought down by Pastore as he tries to break into the box, gifting the home side a free kick from a dangerous area. Yamissi takes the free kick, and tries to keep it low, but he scuffs his effort, giving Sirigu an easy stop.
15 minIbrahimovic chips the ball out wide for Digne, who makes a brilliant cross into the box for Cavani, but the summer signing can't quite jump high enough to make the header. All the pressure is coming from the visitors at the moment.
12 minJallet makes a couple of strong runs down the right side as PSG continue to press for an early goal, but he twice runs out of room as he comes under pressure from Mater. Cavani tries to find his way in from the left, but Penneteau claims his cross before it reaches any of his teammates.
9 minHaving tried to provide his teammates with a couple of chances already tonight, Ibrahimovic calls for the ball as he runs towards the Valenciennes box, but he times his run a fraction to early, and finds himself offside.
7 minKagelmacher sends a long throw in towards the PSG penalty area, which Nguette tries to convert from just inside the box, but Digne is able to make the block. Dossevi tries to play it back in for the hosts, but the PSG back four hold strong.
4 minPastore plays his way into the box again, picking up the ball following some excellent footwork from Cavani on the edge of the box. However, one again the Argentinian sends his finish high.
2 minCHANCE! Ibrahimovic wins the ball inside the PSG half and charges towards the Valenciennes penalty area before passing to Pastore, who only has the keeper to beat, but he slices his shot high.
1 minValenciennes get the game underway.
5.58pmThe players are just coming out of the tunnel ready for the start of this evening's game.
5.55pmPREDICTION! With just a couple of minutes until kickoff, it's time for a prediction. Valenciennes are a better team than their recent form suggests, I can't see them turning it around against PSG. I think the visitors should have a relatively comfortable night, so I'm going for a 3-0 win.
5.52pmIn their most recent matches, PSG shared the points with Monaco, while Valenciennes were crushed by Nice.
5.49pmBlanc's opposite number Daniel Sanchez told the Valenciennes website: "If it were basketball, handball or rugby, we would have no chance. But it's football. We will have nothing to lose. We are professional players, like them. We will need our fans. We're all in the same boat because we want the situation to improve."
5.46pmIn his pre-match press conference, PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: "We are going to have a lot of matches. Players will come in to the team, others will go out to avoid injury. The fact we have players available and in form actually allows rotation."
5.43pmMaor Melikson, who is the only Valenciennes player to have more than one goal to his name this season, will continue up front for the hosts, while Rudy Mater returns from suspension.
5.40pmDespite Valenciennes poor start to the season, last season's champions have named a strong starting lineup, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.
5.38pmPSG SUBSTITUTES: Douchez, Camara, Maxwell, Menez, Motta, Rabiot, Moura
5.37pmVALENCIENNES SUBSTITUTES: Novaes, Angoua, Chitu, Le Tallec, Ciss, Saez, Pujol
5.35pmPSG STARTING XI: Sirigu, Marquinhos, Alex, Digne, Jallet, Cavani, Matuidi, Lavezzi, Verratti, Pastore, Ibrahimovic
5.33pmVALENCIENNES STARTING XI: Penneteau, Lala, Rose, Kagelmacher, Mater, Ducourtioux, Yamissi, Doumbia, Dossevi, Nguette, Melikson
5.31pmGood evening! It's just under half an hour until kickoff, so let's take a look at the teams for tonight's game.
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