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PL
Ligue 1
Dec 22, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
L

2-2

Ibrahimovic (35'), Silva (71')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mavuba (44'), Kalou (52' pen.)

Live Commentary: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Lille - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Lille - as it happened: ID:126112: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's commentary of Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 game against Lille.

Paris Saint-Germain have been held to a 2-2 draw by Lille at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 this evening.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the home side the lead before les Dogues hit back with a goal from Rio Mavuba.

Lille then took the lead through Salomon Kalou's penalty, but an own goal from Marko Basa gave PSG a share of the spoils.

See how the action unfolded below.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole’s live commentary of Paris Saint-Germain’s clash against Lille in Ligue 1.
The team news has just reached us here, so here they are...
PSG: Sirigu; Van der Wiel, Alex, Thiago Silva, Digne; Thiago Motta, Verratti, Matuidi; Lavezzi, Lucas, Ibrahimovic
Lille: Enyeama; Beria, Rozehnal, Basa, Souare; Balmont, Mavuba, Gueye, Martin; Roux, Kalou.
It’s always a pleasure to watch Paris Saint-Germain and tonight’s top-of-the-table clash is no exception. We should be in for an interesting game at Parc des Princes.
It’s the best attack versus the best defence; free-scoring PSG and frugal Lille. Laurent Blanc's side have scored 42 goals, while Lille have shipped just six all season.
PSG have lost only once this term when they were beaten 2-0 away to Evian on December 4, but since that surprise reverse, they have bounced back with eight goals in two games in wins against Sochaux and Rennes on December 7 and 14 respectively.
No Edinson Cavani for PSG tonight, but they still have an abundance of fire-power and creativity with the likes of Lucas Moura, Ezeqiuel Lavezzi, Marco Verratti, and of course, star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
There’s an interesting juxtaposition in tonight’s match, the big-name stars of PSG against the team who largely place the emphasis on the team above stellar names.
However, that being said, LOSC still have the likes of Rio Mavuba, Salomon Kalou and Nolan Roux in tonight’s side. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is also one of the finest around.
Lille are famously hard to score against of course, and they have shipped six goals all season as I mentioned. They went 11 games without conceding and have let in just two in their last 13 games. They have scored just 20 goals and their title challenge is largely based on defensive solidity. It will be intriguing to see how they cope against Ibrahimovic and co this evening.
Rene Girard’s side have been in great form this season. They are not the most spectacular side to watch but they have lost just once in their last 13 games, and have suffered just three reverses all season.
Girard recently claimed that his side have nothing to lose in this evening’s game. He told reporters: "We know that the three points are there for the taking. We know that [PSG] are a big team. It is the last match [before the mid-season break], we will have to be ready.
Girard: "But I would like to say that there is no cleaver to our throats. There is nothing to lose in these kind of games. It is good that we go there under these conditions."
Simon Kjaer misses out for Lille tonight. How important will that be for the visitors and their proud defensive record? The two teams are in the tunnel, we're minutes away from the kickoff.
PSG substitutes: Douchez, Marquinhos, Camara, Rabiot, Pastore, Menez, Ongenda.
Lille substitutes: Elana, Sidibe, Delaplace, Meite, Origi, Rodelin, De Melo
Cavani, for the record, misses out as he deals with a personal situation in his homeland back in Uruguay.
KICKOFF: We're underway at the Parc des Princes..
You get the feeling PSG will have to move it really quickly in the final third if they are to break down the stubborn visitors. They have the talent to do that though, of course.
Kalou tries to thread it through to Roux, but Thiago Silva steps in and intercepts. Good defending from the Brazilian. Ibrahimovic tries something similar for PSG, but Beria cuts it out.
Kalou receives it on the edge of the box but he can't turn properly with it under control and he fouls Alex to concede a freekick. He's started brightly though the Ivorian.
Ibrahimovic and Matuidi exchange passes and the Swede chips his teammate in but Lavezzi reads it as though it is for him and heads it goalwards, but he is offside. Nice move from the home side though.
Excellent from Van der Wiel. The Dutchman escapes down the right and feeds Ibrahimovic but the striker cannot connect with it properly.
Ibrahimovic has started this game well. He looks like he means business this evening.
CHANCE! Nolan Roux lays it on a plate for Kalou, but the Ivorian just can't quite connect.
Nice early tempo to this game. Matuidi is down injured at the minute. He was caught on the knee by Balmont.
Girard will be pleased with how his side have begun this match. They had a big chance and are closing down the PSG players really quickly.
Ibrahimovic has dropped off and is almost playing as a deep-lying midfielder. It hasn't affected his ability to have an impact though. He has just swept a lovely ball right through to Lavezzi but he can't feed Matuidi with a through pass of his own.
Freekick in a good position is wasted by Ibrahimovic. He should have had a shot, but instead he tried a clever quick pass, but the wall were alert and it was cut out.
Enyeama gets away with it, but he nearly had himself in all kinds of trouble. Ibrahimovic closed him down and he nearly stumbled when feinting to kick it. He got lucky there!
Wonderful from Verratti as he escapes two challenges in midfield before passing to Ibrahimovic, who is now playing left side of midfield. The Swede tries to thread Matuidi but the midfielder is bundles out of it on the edge of the box.
CHANCE! It's terrific from Enyeama who denied Lavezzi twice! Digne cuts it back to the striker and he is denied not once but twice with a left-footed effort and then the keeper gets up to palm it away over the bar. Brilliant stuff from the goalkeeper. He has played a large part in their defensive record this season. Excellent keeper.
Matuidi wants a penalty after going down under a challenge. The referee has none of it. It was Beria who committed the tackle and it was risky.
Lucas tries a direct run down the right, but he is stopped by Basa. Great defending there.
Marvin Martin finds Kalou who is allowed to turn and run at the PSG defence. He tries to thread Roux but possession is lost. One or two openings have arisen like that for Lille this evening.
Lavezzi wins a corner on the left. Meanwhile Digne is hurt and he is being attended to...
Matuidi knocks it in for Lavezzi to chase and Rozenhal had to get there and he did. Crucial tackle but he concedes a corner...
CHANCE! Well how has Thiago Silva missed? Ibrahimovic flashes it across and the Brazil international puts it over from three yards out. Terrible miss. That could cost them this evening.
Lovely stuff from Motta, he releases Lucas with a clever flick but the Brazilian's pass to Lavezzi is heavy. PSG are finding their groove now though.
Freekick to PSG as Matuidi is hacked down on the edge of the box. Ibrahimovic has taken the ball and he will surely strike it this time...
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Lille (Zlatan Ibrahimovic)
It's brilliant from the Swede. He leathers it right into the top corner. It takes a slight deflection on the way but it was still a superb effort from the striker. What a goal!
Van der Wiel whips a cross in that Enyeama has to turn over the bar. He took no chances there. Almost a second from the corner, Thiago Silva meets it but the header is blocked by Roux. He knew little of it though the striker.
More magic from Ibrahimovic. He slides it in to Lavezzi but the Argentina international cannot find Lucas with a back-heel.
It's all happening now. Ibrahimovic takes a blow to the face and both sets of players have a coming together. The referee is taking his time with the decision.
Mavuba and Ibrahimovic go in the book. The Swede pushed the Lille man, but the midfielder responded by shoving him in the face. Surely a red card offence by Mavuba? The referee thought otherwise. The fans are furious.
Lucas with another direct run at pace, but this time he is thwarted on the edge of the box with a splendid challenge from Rozenhal. Great tackle.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Lille (Rio Mavuba)
Mavuba meets Kalou's low cross to sweep it into the corner. Would you believe it? He shouldn't be on the field really, but he's struck what could be a priceless equaliser! Game on at Parc des Princes.
Well, what a game we have here. We don't want the half time whistle, but there's two minutes added on before the break.
HALF TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Lille
Well that half nearly had it all. Ibrahimovic put his side up with a superb freekick and then his tangle with Mavuba should have resulted in the Lille man receiving his marching orders. The midfielder stayed on and he responded with the equaliser. Great advert for Ligue 1.
PSG were the better side but Lille had their moments and they will be the happier of the two sides at the interval. Ibrahimovic has been the standout man for the home side, but Matuidi has also had a good half.
UPDATE: Elsewhere in the division today, Marseille drew at home with Bordeaux 2-2, while Lorient held Lyon with the same scoreline.
How costly could Thiago Silva's miss be? It was a contender for miss of the campaign, he was around three yards out and he put it over the bar somehow.
UPDATE: Elsewhere in Europe this evening, The Milan derby is currently goalless in Serie A, while Real Madrid are leading Valencia 2-1 at half time at the Mestalla in La Liga. Celta Vigo are drawing 1-1 against Osasuna too.
Back to this game in Ligue 1, and PSG must be confident of adding to their tally in the second half. They have had chances in the first. However, Lille cannot be discounted, they have hung on in there and are level at the break.
KICKOFF The second period is underway.
Nice play from PSG releases Van der Wiel but his low cross is cut out by Basa. Corner to PSG is headed out by Rozenhal. Another corner...
Lucas's corner is cut out and his second cross is also defended well. Lille come away with it and Kalou wins a freekick for his side to relieve the pressure.
Lucas loses the ball in midfield trying a nutmeg. The Brazilian has been continually dispossessed tonight. Nolan Roux tries to escapes the attentions of the PSG defence, but he takes a poor touch and loses it.
PENALTY TO LILLE
Beria is brought down by Digne. Stonewall penalty. Kalou to take...
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Lille (Salomon Kalou)
The Ivorian keeps his cool to slot it down the middle. Very good penalty from the former Chelsea man. Lille now lead! who would've thought that before kickoff. Beria has gone off with an injury.
It looks as though he has gone off with a shoulder injury. He is replaced by Sidibe. Like for like swap. And if any team can dig in and hold on to a lead, it is Lille.
Sirigu makes a hash of gathering it and Roux could have had a tap-in there if he had reacted quickly.
Lavezzi is hauled down by Kalou, quick freekick by PSG, Van der Wiel's cross is headed away by Rozenhal who has been excellent tonight. He really has deputised well for Kjaer.
Ibrahimovic loses it on the edge of the box and Laurent Blanc's players are starting to get a big ragged out there. When Zlatan starts giving it away, you know things aren't going right. Lille are digging in well here, as we would have expected.
BOOKING Balmont goes in the book.
It's not pretty but Lille scramble it clear. Alex goes in from Ibrahimovic's header and it eventually falls to Verratti and his effort is tipped wide. A real school-yard scramble there!
PSG could have had a penalty amongst all that too. It would have been harsh but it hit a hand amongst it all. I think it was Basa. It's a corner to the home side...
Nolan Roux gets a strong header to it to clear, finally.
BOOKING: Nolan Roux is booked for a challenge on Motta. Deserved yellow.
Lille couldn't have hoped for a better scenario, there are 25 minutes left and they have the lead. All they have to do is see it out and defending has been their major strong point this season.
BOOKING: Motta catches Balmont to go in the book.
SUBSTITUTE Pastore replaces Alex. A playmaker for a centre-back, Laurent Blanc with a really positive change. He needed to make it.
SUBSTITUTE: Rodelin comes on for Martin.
CHANCE! Ibrahimovic slides Pastore in but the sub cannot find his feet six yards out and it is cleared. Rozenhal clears it eventually.
CHANCE! Lovely run from Verratti. He dances his way through and just can't quite get a real effort in on goal. Corner to PSG...
Basa clears the danger, but it's another one...
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Lille (Thiago Silva)
Actually, that is an own goal from Basa. Enyeama totally misses the corner and it comes off the defender and trickles over the line. Unlucky for Lille. To confirm, it was an own goal from Marko Basa.
Is there to be a winner in this incredible game? We enter the final 15 minutes and it could come from either side. Gueye goes in the book for a tired challenge on Matuidi.
SUBSTITUTE: Lavezzi comes off for Jeremy Menez while Digne is subbed for Rabiot.
If there is to be a winner, the smart money would be on Paris Saint-Germain. They are looking the more likely here. Lille look tired now after defending so well for so long. It is only set pieces that have cost them.
Mavuba is releases over the top, but he just doesn't have the pace to get beyond Thiago Silva.
CHANCE! Pastore has a golden opportunity after Rabiot puts him clean through with a brilliant back-heel. However his shot is tame and Enyeama saves. Poor finish.
Verratti and Ibrahimovic try to fashion a chance on the edge of the box, but is is cleared. Menez wins a freekick on the edge of the box and we've already seen what Ibrahimovic can do from here...
CHANCE! Almost a carbon copy of the goal. Another venemous strike from the Sweden international but this time is rises just over the bar. Great hit by Ibrahimovic.
Pastore digs out a cross, but it is headed clear. Rodelin brings it forward and Balmont tries to find room for the shot but he is hurried out of it.
Origi hits it from 25 yards and Sirigu parries it away for a corner...
CHANCE! Sirigu makes a hash of it and Kalou eventually gets a shot off but the keeper saves. That was a big chance for Lille.
CHANCE! Free header for Basa ends up over the bar. He should have scored there. What a chance for the visitors.
Five minutes of added time...
Menez wins another freekick, this time it will be crossed in...
Basa does well to get up and clear rhe danger with a header. Time running out for the home side.
Mavuba makes a tackle on Thiago Silva and he is lucky to escape a second yellow. He has rode his luck this evening, certainly.
Menez has wasted it! He has men screaming out for it across the face of goal, but he goes for goal and Enyeama saves it. What a waste that was!
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Lille
Well, what a game that was. Great entertainment from Parc des Princes. Both teams had the lead at one point, but in truth neither deserved to end up the beaten side there.
That's all from me, until next time, bye for now...

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