Runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their UEFA Champions League encounter with Chelsea by dropping points for only the fourth time in Ligue 1 this season, held 0-0 in a scrappy home draw by Lille OSC on Saturday.
PSG host Chelsea in the first leg of their round-of-16 match today and coach Laurent Blanc clearly had that game in mind as he left star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of his squad, but PSG still fielded a strong side with Edinson Cavani leading the attack — and missing two good chances.
The former SSC Napoli striker has come under pressure after a string of below-par performances, but Blanc is backing him.
“We have to help Cavani. We need to help him get his confidence back,” Blanc said.
Blanc was more worried about avoiding any injuries before the visit of the English Premier League champions, who are finding their form following a turbulent start to the season.
“We had to avoid picking up injuries and we succeeded in that,” Blanc said.
PSG, who had won 16 straight games in all competitions heading into the match, last failed to win a league game on Dec. 1 last year — drawing 0-0 away to Angers SCO.
It makes little difference as second-placed AS Monaco trailed by 25 points ahead of their trip to AS Saint-Etienne yesterday.
Jean-Kevin Augustin replaced Ibrahimovic in attack and had a good chance in the ninth minute after being set up by winger Angel di Maria, but Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama palmed away his low shot.
Enyeama made a nice save to stop Di Maria’s toe-poke in the 37th minute and Lille midfielder Rio Mavuba was the next to rescue his side when he headed Layvin Kurzawa’s attempt off the line four minutes later.
Cavani should have done better in the 57th minute when Enyeama flapped at Blaise Matuidi’s cross. The ball fell to Cavani, but he failed to hit the target.
Cavani had another chance with five minutes to go after midfielder Benjamin Stambouli picked him out on the left of the penalty area, but Enyeama thwarted him.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Nantes moved provisionally up to fourth place with a 2-1 home win against Lorient, as Brazilian midfielder Adryan Oliveira Tavares and striker Emiliano Sala grabbed a goal each.
Girondins de Bordeaux score goals as easily as they concedes them. Following a 4-3 defeat to Nantes last week in the Coupe de France, Bordeaux bounced back with a 4-2 win away to En Avant de Guingamp — taking their total of goals conceded to 18 in six games.
Also on Saturday, last-placed ESTAC Troyes won 3-2 at Gazelec Ajaccio, Montpellier Herault beat Toulouse 2-0 and SC Bastia won 1-0 away at Stade de Reims.
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