Laurent Blanc continued his search for a first Ligue 1 win with Paris Saint-Germain tonight, against Fabrizio Ravanelli's Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes.
Edinson Cavani's full debut took the headlines before kickoff, but Benoit Pedretti quickly changed that by smashing Ajaccio ahead after 10 minutes.
PSG were frustrated in their search for a response until the 87th minute, when Cavani hammered home his first for the French champions to equalise late on.
A frantic search for a winner proved fruitless for the hosts, who have now drawn their first two league games for a second season running.
Look back at a pulsating clash in the French capital with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening French football fans. A packed second weekend of Ligue 1 action concludes tonight at the Parc des Princes, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain hosting Ajaccio.
PSG have made a steady start to life under Laurent Blanc, after coming from behind to earn a battling point at Montpellier. Nothing but a win will do this evening though, against an Ajaccio side who lost last week, in a narrow battling defeat to Saint-Etienne.
Blanc must be tempted to give Edinson Cavani a full debut this evening, after his cameo role off the bench against Montpellier last weekend. The Uruguayan has been playing catch up following Confederations Cup duty this summer, but after two weeks of full training will be desperate to make the starting XI tonight.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! News of tonight's lineups has just reached us and indeed Cavani gets his first PSG start, finally forming a mouth-watering attack alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A full look at both teams will follow in just a few moments.
PSG: Sirigu, Silva, Alex, Maxwell, Jallet, Motta, Matuidi, Pastore, Lucas, Cavani, Ibrahimovic
Ajaccio: Ochoa, Perozo, Zubar, Bonnart, Nadeau, Pierazzi, Mostefa, Lasne, Pedretti, Mutu, Diarra
Ezequeil Lavezzi is the man to make way for Cavani, with the former Napoli duo made to wait a little longer for a reunion. Thiago Motta also returns for PSG in central midfield after recovering from a calf problem, with Marco Verratti dropping to the bench.
Javier Pastore also starts for PSG after an impressive second-half showing against Montpellier, with the Argentine and Lucas Moura playing down either wing. Marquinhos and Lucas Digne's wait for a first start goes on, with both young defenders named as substitutes.
Ajaccio are without Andre Benjamin tonight through suspension, following his red card last weekend. Adrian Mutu continues in attack for the visitors, with Sigi Diarra coming into the side out left.
Tonight's opposing managers Ravanelli and Blanc are former Marseille teammates, but I would not be surprised if the two exchange heated words on the touchlines. Ravanelli is never shy in expressing his opinion and would love nothing more than to get one over on former foes PSG by springing a surprise tonight.
PREDICTION! Unfortunately for Ajaccio I can't see past a home win tonight, particularly with Cavani and Ibrahimovic taking their first steps towards a formidable strike partnership in attack. I'll back the Uruguayan to net his first for PSG in a 3-0 home victory.
We are a little bit late kicking off tonight, thanks to a touch of mind games for Ravanelli. The Italian kept PSG waiting as Ajaccio emerged from the changing rooms at least two minutes late, but they eventually come out to a chorus of boos reserved especially for Ravanelli.
Here we go then at the Parc des Princes, with Ajaccio launching long from the kickoff and quickly retreating to form two banks of four. An early challenge from Ibrahimovic on Diarra gives the hosts a free kick, which Ochoa smashes towards Mutu.
The referee's whistle prevents Ibrahimovic from pouncing on Motta's curling free kick into the penalty area, with Cavani also prowling just behind. Ajaccio have noticeably opted for a high line in the early going, perhaps in an effort to press and stop that famous front two running riot.
SAVE! Ibrahimovic sees a free kick come off Nadeau's hand in the wall, giving him another set piece just outside the penalty area. At the second time of asking his low effort is struck with menace and takes a deflection, but stays central enough for Ochoa to tip wide with a strong stop. Ajaccio are hanging on here in the early going.
GOAL! PSG 0-1 Ajaccio (Pedretti)
Ajaccio have stunned the Parc des Princes by taking the lead against the run of play, thanks to a glorious strike from Pedretti. The midfielder picked up the ball from Diarra and let fly from 20 yards, curling a superb strike beyond Sirigu and just inside the far corner. A shock lead for the visitors with their first shot!
Diarra leaves Jallet for dead with a superb piece of skill, nutmegging the full-back with a clever backheel. He races forward and wins a corner for the visitors off Maxwell, but Mutu's cross from the corner goes beyond Zubar at the far post. PSG still look surprised as Ibrahimovic controls a long pass before having his shot blocked down by Zubar on the cover.
Pastore's chipped pass just fails to find an intelligent run off his marker from Cavani, while at the other end Diarra's bright start is halted by a strong challenge from Jallet. The winger limps to the touchline but quickly returns, while Ravanelli berates the referee for not awarding a free kick.
Cavani and Ibrahimovic combine for the first time after Pastore finds space for the pair with a pass inside the penalty area. Cavani's chip towards the back post finds the Swede in space, but after rising high his header tamely goes through to a grateful Ochoa.
Matuidi falls inside the penalty area but the ball runs kindly for Maxwell, who forces Ochoa to turn behind for a corner kick at his near post. In the next passage of play Lucas Moura appeals for a foul just outside the box, but the Brazilian went down too easily and the referee is unmoved.
You can see the beginning of an understanding between PSG's front two as Ibrahimovic's pass towards Cavani in the six-yard box is but out by Zubar, who has been busy in the last 10 minutes.
Ibrahimovic again beats his marker to a header in the air, but under pressure from Perozo fails to generate any power on an effort Ochoa gathers with relative ease. Ajaccio have dropped deeper but are still managing to keep new boy Cavani relatively quiet at the moment.
Thiago Silva tries a long diagonal pass through to Cavani, but the ball has too much power behind it and goes beyond the Uruguayan at the far post. PSG need more width in their play to provide service for their illustrious attacking duo.
WIDE! Pastore's provides a killer pass for Ibrahimovic, floating a deft chip towards the Swede at the back post. The talisman waits for the ball to drop and directs a sweetly-stuck volley low and hard, but his effort goes just beyond the far post as Ajaccio breathe a sigh of relief.
Ajaccio hold their line to catch Ibrahimovic offside, just as he looks to round Ochoa in acres of space inside the penalty area. Pastore is now coming off the left flank regularly, helping create indecision at the back which forces Zubar to skew clear for a corner kick.
The Parc des Princes is growing impatient before the break, as PSG probe patiently without finding the equaliser. Worryingly for the visitors Diarra's early threat with pace on the counter has faded, with Mutu completely isolated in attack.
Matuidi somehow manages to wriggle past three challenges to find Pastore inside the penalty area, but he is quickly charged down by an important block and despite protests can't even win a corner kick.
Ibrahimovic gets above Bonnart to meet Maxwell's cross at the far post, but off balance his floated header goes well beyond the far post. Just before that effort the Swede tried to flick towards Cavani across goal, but was closed down by Mostefa on the cover.
HALF-TIME PSG 0-1 Ajaccio
PSG leave the field to a chorus of jeers from the home crowd, with the champions trailing thanks to a superb strike from Pedretti. Ochoa has helped the visitors maintain their advantage, but there is still a long way to go in this match.
All the pre-match media attention was focused around Cavani's full debut for PSG, but Pedretti has done his best to steal headlines with a drive from distance. Blanc's side have completely dominated possession but still trail at the break, with a big effort ahead to turn this match round.
STATISTICS: A quick glance at the half-time stats show just how dominant PSG were during the opening period. Blanc's side managed 79% possession and 12 shots at goal, but Ajaccio's single strike at the other end has been enough to make the difference so far.
Whilst it's still early days for Blanc in Paris a defeat tonight would see the champions fall five points behind the likes of Monaco, Marseille and Lyon after just a fortnight of the new campaign. No need to panic just yet though for PSG, with 45 minutes to turn things round just ahead.
PSG fans will definitely be discussing the Cavani/Zlatan partnership at the break, so let's do the same. Ibrahimovic has definitely looked the more potent of the pair, regularly taking up dangerous positions inside the penalty area in trademark style. Cavani has struggled at times but still looks lively, with the Uruguayan perhaps needing time to adjust after joining his new side just a few weeks ago.
If the hosts continue to struggle for a breakthrough against this stubborn Ajaccio side expect Lavezzi to enter the fray early in the second half. With Ravanelli's side so deep perhaps Blanc could sacrifice one of Matuidi or Motta, who are both primarily holding midfielders first and foremost.
PSG get the half underway and immediately appeal for a penalty in vain, after Ibrahimovic went down rather easily in the box.
SUBSTITUTION: There is news of an enforced Ajaccio change to report at the break, with Claude Dielna replacing Grenddy Perozo after he picked up a knock late in the first half. Dielna is almost culpable for an equaliser instantly as he loses Cavani in the penalty area, but the forward heads a difficult chance beyond the far post.
The rain is starting to fall heavily at the Parc des Princes as PSG win a free kick just outside the penalty area for a foul on Lucas. Motta's cross goes into the box but is hurriedly smacked clear by Mutu, who is back to lend a hand for the visitors.
Pastore roams inside but is met by wall of Ajaccio resistance, forced inside he sends a poor pass towards Matuidi that ends in a needless foul from the midfielder.
SUBSTITUTION: Ravanelli has decided to make a change in attack, swapping the visibly tiring and frustrated Mutu for physical target man Oliech.
Frustration is taking over for PSG now as Matuidi launches into a needless lunge to retrieve possession. Time for fresh ideas in the final third, and with that Blanc tells Lavezzi to get ready.
SUBSTITUTION: The home crowd loudly boo as Pastore comes on for Lavezzi, but the change almost pays instant reward as Cavani tests Ochoa with a powerful strike. From the following corner kick Alex's header looks destined for the bottom corner, but a covering defender heads clear off the line. Getting closer now for PSG, who have gone for it with three in attack.
Play is stopped as Matuidi is cut wide open after going up for a hder inside the penalty area. There is bloody pouring out of his head at a rapid rate after butting heads in challenge with Nadeau, and I highly doubt that he will be able to continue as both men stay down.
SUBSTITUTION: Matuidi is up on his feet but still bleeding profusely, with a bandage applied to his head as he trudges towards the touchline. PSG quickly send on Verratti as a direct replacement, while Alex and Zubar both get yellow cards after an angry exchange following that clash of heads. Expect a healthy chunk of injury time after that incident.
Ochoa rushes out quickly to deny Ibrahimovic a free strike at goal from four yards. The Mexican keeper has been outstanding tonight but must stay on his guard for at least 20 more minutes to help Ajaccio achieve a famous victory as Alex heads wide after meeting a corner kick.
Jallet pops up in the penalty area to meet a half-cleared cross, but his strike looks like the effort of a full back and trickles well beyond the far post.
YELLOW CARD! The referee decides Ochoa is timewasting from a goal kick and books the goalkeeper, with the stopped quickly involved again to gather a strike from Lavezzi at the second time of asking.
Ibrahimovic controls brilliantly inside the penalty area but is shut down by no less than three Ajaccio defenders. Just a worrying lack of urgency about PSG now, with time running out to respond as Ogenda replaces Lucas Moura.
OFF THE BAR! PSG win a pair corner kicks in quick succession and somehow are still behind. Thiago Silva met the second cross and powered a header towards goal, but from close range smacks the crossbar. You can't come much closer but despite total domination Blanc's men still trail.
Verratti misjudges a forward pass, allowing Ochoa to run down the clock before smashing a goal kick upfield. Lavezzi then tries to find space out wide, winning another corner kick which he takes quickly, but finds Ibrahimovic in an offside position.
GOAL! PSG 1-1 Ajaccio (Cavani)
At last long past PSG level thanks to a trademark finish from Cavani. The Uruguayan turns brilliantly just outside the area, using the space created to slam past Ochoa into the top corner. What a way to open your account at a new club, with relief the overriding emotion at the Parc des Princes.
We are in for a frantic finish as Cavani wins a corner kick on the far side, with Silva's curling strike nearly catching Ochoa off guard at the far post. There will be at least four minutes of injury time as Lavezzi has a strong penalty appeal turned away, with the forward rather harshly booked for diving.
OFF THE BAR! Lavezzi meets a flick on from Alex but has his chip cleared at the last moment by Pierazzi. Inside a minute Verratti is then kept out by Ochoa, before Silva smacks a superb effort off the crossbar. How PSG aren't winning this is I do not know!
One last chance for PSG to smack forward as Lavezzi is bundles over out out wide by Lasne. A quality cross finds Verratti at the far post, but he gets contact all wrong and with that Ajaccio have done enough to earn a point they scarcely deserve.
FULL-TIME PSG 1-1 Ajaccio
So somehow the wait for Blanc's first win in Ligue 1 goes on, with PSG registering 34 shots at goal in a frustrating score draw. Ajaccio goalkeeper Ochoa was nothing short of heroic to earn the visitors a point, with the champions enduring a start which mirrors their beginning under Ancelotti last season.
And with that another packed weekend of Ligue 1 action comes to a close. Thanks for joining Sports Mole and be sure to check back in for reaction from across Europe this weekend. Goodnight!
