MX23RW : Monday, December 23 23:58:04| >> :120:8349:8349:
[monks data]
PSG logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Anderlecht

1-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
de Zeeuw (68')

Live Commentary: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Anderlecht - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage from the Champions League where Paris Saint-Germain host Anderlecht in Group C.
2

Paris Saint-Germain hosted Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday night with the chance to secure their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

The Ligue 1 champions had won all three of their match in Group C so far, and would qualify for the next round with a victory against an Anderlecht side who had lost all three of their group games, including a 5-0 drubbing to PSG in Belgium a fortnight ago.

However, Anderlecht earned a surprising point at Parc des Princes as they held PSG to a draw.

Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Champions League where Paris Saint-Germain host Anderlecht at Parc des Princes in Group C.

It's a big night this evening for both these sides; one of them can secure their place in the next round, while the other need to win to maintain a chance of staying in European competition in some capacity.

I wouldn't tell you who just for now, but here is a little clue: PSG won the reverse fixture a fortnight ago 5-0 in Brussels.

PSG are flying. They have cruised to comfortable wins in all three games and are now two points clear at the top of Ligue 1 following the weekend's action. Laurent Blanc's side are still yet to taste defeat this season, with their unbeaten run stretching to 31 games, going all the way back to March. They have scored 12 goals in Group C and let in just one, so Anderlecht have a real job on their hands here.

Meanwhile, Anderlecht have had a shocker so far. They have lost against both Benfica and Olympiacos, who they would have targeted as their rivals for second place in the group, and were battered by PSG two weeks ago. They still await their first goal in this season's competition, but have picked the ball out of the back of the net 10 times already. They'll feel that they have to get something from this match if they are to have any chance of progressing from the group.

I'll give you more background previewing the match shortly, but let's bring you the team news.

PSG XI: Sirigu, Van der Wiel, Marquinhos, Alex, Maxwell, Motta, Verratti, Matuidi, Moura, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi

Laurent Blanc has made five changes to the team following their 4-0 win over Lorient on Friday.

The big news for PSG fans is that captain Thiago Silva has returned from fitness having been out injured since September. He takes a place on the bench.

Lucas Digne, Christophe Jallet, Adrien Rabiot, Jeremy Menez and Edinson Cavani have all been taken out of the starting lineup.

Gregory Van der Wiel, Maxwell, Blaise Matuidi, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been drafted in.

PSG BENCH: Douchez, Silva, Digne, Menez, Rabiot, Jallet, Pastore

Cavani isn't fit enough for the bench, but the news will softened by the return of Ibrahimovic, who smashed in four goals against this opposition two weeks ago.

ANDERLECHT XI: Kaminski, Vanden Borre, Mbemba, Kouyate, Deschacht, Kljestan, Milivojevic, Praet, De Zeeuw, Nsakala, Mitrovi

John van den Brom has made just a single alteration to the team that beat OH Leuven 3-1 at the weekend.

Winger Massimo Bruno drops to the bench, while Dennis Praet takes his spot in the side.

And now for the Anderlecht bench.

ANDERLECHT BENCH: Nuytinck, Cyriac, Bruno, Acheampong, Tielemans, Roef, Najar

So how have these two teams done this season so far? Well both won their respective top flights last term, but have had different start to the campaign.

PSG are two points clear of second at the top of Ligue 1, and are still yet to taste defeat, despite the fact that they have played AS Monaco, Marseille and Saint-Etienne among others.

Meanwhile Anderlecht find themselves fifth in the Pro League, although they have cut their deficit to trailing the leaders by just five points. Anderlecht have won two of their three matches since they last faced PSG, drew the other with table-topping Standard Liege and seem to be over their poor start to the year.

We're just minutes away from kick off, and the teams are in the tunnel.

The teams are making their way out onto the field in what is far from a full crowd at Parc des Princes. Less than 200 Anderlecht fans have made the trip from Brussels to the French capital.

PSG have come out wearing navy tracksuit tops to go with their home kit of all navy, with red and white blocks on the shirts.

Meanwhile, Anderlecht are donning an all-white strip for the encounter.

KICK OFF! PSG, playing from right to left, get the match underway.

PSG have an early corner which Motta goes for, his header is blocked and Matuidi goes for the second ball, but Anderlecht can eventually clear.

Even start so far in Paris. PSG, as expected, have had most of the possession, but Anderlecht have refused to sit back and have ventured their way forward in the early stages.

MISS! Just like that, PSG turn on the style and nearly take the lead. Verratti chips a lovely ball into the box fromt the centre of the half which if falling to Lavezzi on the run. He gets his head to the ball but nods it over and wide. He should have scored there.

That miss does go to show though just how easily PSG can carve Anderlecht open.

Nearly another chance for PSG. Ibrahimovic's long-range shot is deflected into the path of Lavezzi in the penalty area, but he is closed down by the time he can get the ball out at his feet.

Lucas races into the box after skipping past Deschacht with his rapid pace and wins a corner.

Anderlecht haven't done too badly so far. They haven't let PSG settle yet, which is a lot better than how they started in the last match.

Mind you, Anderlecht do seem to have six at the back when PSG are in possession.

GROUP C UPDATE: Konstantinos Manola has just given Olympiacos the lead over Benfica.

CLOSE! Ibrahimovic is allowed in behind after the defender misses his interception. He lets the ball bounce on the right side of the box, and smashes a rocket just over the top corner of the near post.

Anderlecht are pressing PSG well at the moment, and have a lot of players forward when the hosts have the ball in defence and forcing them into errors. How long they will be able to keep that work rate up is a different issue.

Anderlecht's pressure wins them a corner on the right, but Nsakala's delivery is caught by Sirigu.

The French crowd is beginning to come alive, and it is one that includes Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio.

PSG just have no space in attack at the moment, Anderlecht are doing terrifically well to cut off their supply in midfield.

CHANCE! Anderlecht work the ball down the right and pass it to Mitrovic into the area. The 19-year-old takes a touch a fires an effort at goal, but it was always rising.

Ibrahimovic goes down under a challenge wanting a free kick, but the referee tells the striker to get up. The Swede is not amused, but it did look as if he just feel over.

Anderlecht have a long spell of attacking possession on the edge of the box, but they can't make the most of it.

SAVE! It's a relatively comfortable stop for Sirigu, but it's lovely quick passing in the build-up play up from Anderlecht, which results in Mitrovic's low shot going straight at the PSG keeper.

Anderlecht deserve a lot of credit for the way they have played so far. They are really working hard and giving it a go. They've just won another corner thanks to Praet.

This time two weeks ago, PSG were already 3-0 to the good.

However, they just simply can't get through their opponents, who are showing a very disciplined backline.

Maxwell finds some space on the left and puts a low cross in towards Lavezzi at the near post, but Kouyate slides in to force the corner.

YELLOW CARD Kljestan takes one for the team as he cynically brings down Lucas, who was away down the touchline. PSG waste the free kick.

Verratti is clattered by De Zeeuw, but the free kick goes the way of Anderlecht for handball. Controversial.

Nsakala curls in a free kick from the right to the far post which Sirigu gets to first and punches away. The ball falls at the feet of Milivojevic then tries to finesse an effort at goal from the edge of the box, but it's straight at Sirigu.

Ibrahimovic gives away a foul, which leads to a huge roar from the crowd. They're starting to get frustrated.

HALF TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Anderlecht

No added time as PSG are jeered from the field. It's not been the most entertaining of halfs, but Anderlecht have done tremendously well so far.

Both sides have had chances too, but neither keeper has had to make too difficult a save so far.

The players are back out at the Parc des Princes.

KICK OFF! Anderlecht, playing from right to left, get the second half up and running.

YELLOW CARD Lavezzi beats Milivojevic, which results in a rash challenge from the Anderlecht man.

PSG have a free kick 33 metres from goal, dead central. Ibrahimovic up for it...and he slams it into the wall.

Marquinhos wins a free kick following a collision running towards the PSG with Mitrovic. The striker says it was a dive, and I'm inclined to agree.

PSG have started this half with more possession than their Belgian opponents, but no clear chances as of yet.

CHANCE! Lovely move from PSG, but it doesn't lead to a goal. Lavezzi plays it to Ibrahimovic on the edge of the D, who turns and slides in Lucas, but the Brazilian takes one touch too many and Anderlecht can clear.

CLOSE! Motta curls a corner to the far post towards Ibrahimovic, but the striker is massively under pressure and heads wide. That's the closest we have come to a goal so far.

PSG are starting to get into the mood now with a few nice little flicks and tricks, but they still haven't tested Kaminski yet.

Big moment for the PSG fans, Thiago Silva is coming on.

PSG CHANGE Huge applause for Silva as he returns to the field. His name is being screamed from the stands in unison as he replaces Marquinhos.

That change seems to have lifted the crowd massively, and PSG have a corner now after Lavezzi's shot is blocked. The corner comes to nothing however.

MISS! I thought this was in. PSG have a lovely attack as Matuidi runs inside with the ball, Lavezzi takes it off his feet and gives it to Ibrahimovic, who spins and lifts a ball over the defence in the tightest amount of space to Lucas. However, the Brazilian meets the ball on the volley, but slams it wide of the target. Big chance.

CHANCE! Alex hammers a free kick over the bar.

GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Anderlecht (Demy De Zeeuw)

Anderlecht lead! The Parc des Princes is stunned, and it's a great goal from the Belgians. It's a lovely passing move from the left which ends up in a cut back to De Zeeuw, who slots it past Sirigu to silence the hosts.

GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Anderlecht (Zlatan Ibrahimovic)

Well that didn't last long. It's an instant leveller for PSG, and Anderlecht's tormentor strikes again. Matuidi does all the hard work before bursting into the left of the box and passing inside to Ibrahimovic. The strikers first shot goes through the legs of Kaminski and onto the post, before the big Swede taps home the rebound.

Menez and Pastore are about to come on. Two players with points to prove at PSG.

PSG CHANGES So Pastore and Menez come on in place of Lavezzi and Verratti.

Lavezzi is now 11 games without a goal for PSG, although he didn't do too badly here tonight. He should have had a goal though. Verratti was superb again.

So that's all three changes used by Laurent Blanc, and we're about to have the first Anderlecht substitution.

ANDERLECHT CHANGE Praet is the man who has been replaced, having had a quiet second half. 19-year-old Ghanaian Frank Acheampong is on.

RED CARD! Sacha Kljestan is shown a second yellow card and sent off. He's had a great game, but a rush of blood led to him stick him arm out to intercept a pass, and for that he is off.

Huge task for Anderlecht to stay level now, with 10 men against a determined PSG. Menez has just won a free kick right on the edge of the D. It was a soft one, but he got it.

Motta takes the free kick as the left-footed option, but it's off the head of the wall and out for a corner.

ANDERLECHT CHANGE Mitrovic is replaced by Yoeri Tielemans is on. The Belgians now have no strikers on the field.

Lucas races away from his marker to the edge of the box and has a wild smash at goal, with his effort swerving away from the target.

The ball falls kindly to Pastore inside the box, he has options but goes for glory and pretty much passes the ball to Kaminski.

Kaminski makes a great stop after Alex helps on Pastore's pass to Menez, but the winger was flagged offside, although the decision looks to have been incorrect.

ANDERLECHT CHANGE De Zeeuw is replaced by Nuytinck.

YELLOW CARD Kaminski is booked for taking too long on a goal kick.

The fourth official had signalled five minutes added time, we've got three of them left.

All the action is in the Anderlecht half at the moment. Nearly everyone back for the Belgians.

GROUP C UPDATE Olympiacos have beaten Benfica 1-0 in the group's other game.

Free kick just outside the box for PSG, it's now or never.

CHANCE! Menez dinks the ball into the box, and it is met by Thiago Silva. It would have been a fairytale return, but his head was caught by Kaminski.

FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Anderlecht

Well who expected that? Not me that's for sure, but Anderlecht have come away from Parc des Princes with a very-deserved point.

De Zeeuw had given the visitors the lead, before Ibrahimovic struck an instant equaliser. Still, it means that Anderlecht have their first point of the Champions League campaign, while PSG have to wait a little bit longer before securing their place in the next round.

Well that's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the match. Until next time, it's goodbye.

ID:115993: cacheID:115993:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:30584:
Written by
Matt Cotton
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain's French coach Laurent Blanc watches his players during the French L1 football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) against Bastia (SCB) on October 19, 2013
Read Next:
Blanc: 'Anderlecht match PSG's biggest yet'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!