PSG lose ground as Lyon fight back
Published on: Tuesday, September 23, 2014
PARIS: Two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Lyon on Sunday at the Parc des Princes as they lost ground on leading trio Marseille, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. Laurent Blanc's talent-laden side gave away an 84th minute equaliser after appearing in control following Edinson Cavani's 20th minute opener. PSG take their tally to 10 points and three behind Marseille who lead the way on goal difference from Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne.
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Lille are alone in fourth on 12 points with Montpellier and Nantes also level with PSG and well positioned after six matches in Ligue 1. Uruguayan striker Cavani scored his third goal of the season with a superb diving header as he latched onto a pinpoint cross from 21-year-old left-back Lucas Digne. However with time running out, PSG failed to clear their penalty box after a scramble and the ball fell to Cameroon-born defender Samuel Umtiti whose right foot shot was deflected by Brazilian Marquinos and past stranded 'keeper Salvatore Sirigu. Blanc's side marshalled the match in a confident showing, following their 1-1 draw at Ajax in midweek in their Champions League pool opener, but will come under further scrutiny after again letting points slip at home.
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Earlier, Saint-Etienne moved into third place thanks to a goal eight minutes from time by Fabien Lemoine for a valuable 1-0 win at Lens. Last season's runners-up Monaco got some welcome cheer after a dismal start to their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Brittany side Guingamp while Lille and Montpellier battled to a scoreless draw.
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"It was a good week and good for the confidence," said Saint-Etienne striker Mevlut Erding following the team's fourth win in six matches."Physically, it was difficult especially with the travelling but we didn't have time to worry about it," added Erding in reference to the club's Europa League trip to Azerbaijan in midweek. "We knew in the second half we had to be solid at the back and then wait for weaknesses in our opponent." At the Louis II stadium on the Cote d'Azur, former Sporting Lisbon coach Leonardo Jardim guided Monaco to their second win in six days thanks a goal seven minutes before half-time from Nabil Dirar. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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