Paris Saint-Germain played hosts to Saint-Etienne at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night for a place in the last eight of the Coupe de la Ligue.
The Ligue 1 champions were knocked out in the last 16 of the competition by Les Verts last season, who went on to win the tournament.
In a tense affair, PSG snatched a dramatic win late in extra time to move into the quarter-finals and dump the holders out.
Read how the match unfolded in the live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Paris Saint-Germain against Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de la Ligue.
This is just one of an array of fixtures tonight in the competition, with two ties (shortly to be three) having already been settled. Nantes advanced into the last eight last night, while Lyon secured their spot earlier this afternoon. Nice are on the verge of joining them at the expense of Sochaux, ahead of the remaining five games tonight.
Our attention is at the Parc des Princes, where Paris Saint-Germain host Saint-Etienne in the standout meeting of the round. It's the Ligue 1 champions versus the cup holders, and it should be a cracker.
PSG have also tended to struggle up against Les Verts, and were held to a 2-2 draw at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard earlier this season. However, they did fight back from two goals down to secure a point against 10 men in the dying minutes.
It was also in this competition last year that PSG were knocked out in the last 16 at the hands of the eventual winners after Saint-Etienne came out on top in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier was the hero that day, but who will scoop that accolade tonight? There's only one way to find out.
PSG are one of the most successful teams in this competition, having come out on top in three of the four finals they have partaken in, with the most recent of those coming in 2008.
Saint-Etienne have only ever made it to the final at Stade de France on one occasion which, of course, came in last season's competition where they beat Bordeaux. It was their first trophy since winning the Ligue 1 title 31 years ago.
Right, enough of the history, let's meet the teams.
PSG XI: Douchez, Van der Wiel, Marquinhos, Silva, Digne, Motta, Rabiot, Verratti, Lucas, Cavani, Lavezzi
Manager Laurent Blanc has made four changes to the team that beat Rennes at the weekend.
Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, Alex, Blaise Matuidi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all miss out, while Nicolas Douchez, Marquinhos, Adrien Rabiot and Lucas replace them.
Ibrahimovic and Alex are banned, Sirigu is rested and Christophe Jallet and Maxwell are currently out injured.
Let's take a look at Blanc's substitutes.
PSG BENCH: Maignan, Camara, Matuidi, Pastore, Coman, Menez, Ongenda
So that's the PSG squad; now for the visitors.
SAINT-ETIENNE XI: Ruffier, Clerc, Ghoulam, Perrin, Sall, Cohade, Corgnet, Lemoine, Tabanou, Brandao, Hamouma
Galtier has decided to make just a single alteration to the team that beat Montpellier HSC on the road last time out.
Romain Hamouma comes into the team on the wing, in place of Max Gradel.
Here is what Galtier has in reserve.
SAINT-ETIENNE BENCH: Moulin, Brison, Mignot, Pogba, Mollo, Erding, Gradel
The teams are out at the Parc des Princes, we're just moments away from kick off.
PSG are wearing their home kit of all navy with red and white blocks on the shirts, while Saint-Etienne come sporting their famous green firs strip, with gold trim.
Just quickly, here are the other fixtures taking place at the same time as this match.
Coupe de la Ligue Last 16:
Troyes vs. Tours
Marseille vs. Toulouse
Evian TG vs. Bastia
Rennes vs. Bordeaux
Troyes vs. Tours
Marseille vs. Toulouse
Evian TG vs. Bastia
Rennes vs. Bordeaux
KICK OFF! PSG, playing from right to left, get the match up and running.
Fast start from PSG as they attack the Saint-Etienne penalty area, but Cavani cannot get his shot away. There are a few empty seats at the Parc des Princes, but it's still looking pretty full.
The game has yet to settle and there are a fair few fouls being committed, mainly by Saint-Etienne.
PSG have enjoyed most of the possession so far, but neither side has create a clear chance as of yet.
Cavani runs onto a chip into the box and manages to keep it in play to the left of the goal on the byline. He curls a cross back into the danger zone, but there is no teammate near the delivery, and Ruffier easily catches.
Lavezzi runs onto a ball over the top to the left of centre and slams a low shot on the bounce towards the far post which stings the palms of Ruffier. However, the Argentine had been flagged offside.
CHANCE! Good first opportunity for the hosts. Ghoulam's cross to the far post is nodded into the centre by Brandao where Corgnet meets it with a header towards goal. However, it is straight down the throat of Douchez. A good move nonetheless.
PSG are starting to take control once again after nice spell from the holders.
Saint-Etienne give away a free kick on the right touchline, and PSG could work a cross from this set piece.
Motta lofts a ball in towards the penalty spot where Marquinhos gets his head to it. However, it's too weak and is a routine catch for Ruffier.
It's back up the other end with Saint-Etienne now has the tempo begins to increase at the Parc des Princes. Hamouma gets a shot away from the edge of the D, but cannons it off the back of his own teammate Sall, who couldn't get out of the way.
It really is end to end at the moment, despite the lack of chances. It's becoming a good game.
CLOSE! Cavani throws his head into his hands after going close for the hosts. The ball comes back to him on the right of the box, and he fires a low shot towards the far corner that flashes just wide of the post.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Saint-Etienne (Edinson Cavani)
He's got his goal now though, and it's a superb finish from Cavani. Digne brings down a ball over the top of the left of the box before passing to Verratti. The Italian then chips it to the far post where Cavani brings it down, takes it past Ruffier before slotting his finish into the back of the net. PSG lead.
How will the holders respond? They get past PSG via penalties after a goalless draw last year. They're going to have to find the back of the net this time around though if they are to repeat their achievement.
That goal was Cavani's 17th in all competitions so far this season. He's starting to prove his worth following that £55m move.
SAVE! Ruffier is forced into a fine stop after a brilliant run of play by Lucas. He puts it through the legs of Ghoulam on the right before sprinting inside the box. He smacks a shot towards the near post, but Ruffier comes across and makes a good save.
Cavani, for some reason, has tracked all the way back to the edge of his own box before fouling Tabanou, and Saint-Etienne now have a free kick right on the corner of the area.
It's a waste from Saint-Etienne as they blast it into the wall, and PSG can clear it away.
YELLOW CARD Cavani is all over the shop at the moment. He puts in what most people refer to as a "striker's challenge" and picks up a caution.
Not too much to report at the moment, PSG have had the Lion's share of the possession.
More of the same over the past few minutes. Both teams exchanging the ball, but neither keeper has been worked for a while now.
SAVE! Finally, an effort on goal. Tabanou is slid in on the left of the box and smashes a shot towards the far corner, but Douchez gets down well and makes the block with his legs.
SAVE! It should be 2-0. Lavezzi's header inside the box is blocked before he smashes the loose ball towards goal. Ruffier makes an awesome save with his legs, but the ball then falls to Verratti. He should shoot, but instead passes it to Rabiot, who does the exact same thing in an identical situation. In the end, Saint-Etienne can clear.
HALF TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Saint-Etienne
So the champions lead the holders at the break following what could be described as a hot and cold first half; gripping in parts, dull in the rest.
It's Edinson Cavani's goal that is the difference at the moment, but PSG should be further ahead. However, Saint-Etienne have goalkeeper and captain Stephane Ruffier to thank for just being the one goal behind.
While we've got time, here are the full-time scores from matches that have already reached their conclusion in the last 16.
Coupe de la Ligue Results:
Nantes 1-0 Auxerre
Lyon 3-2 Reims
Nice 3-0 Sochaux
Nantes 1-0 Auxerre
Lyon 3-2 Reims
Nice 3-0 Sochaux
And the half-time scores elsewhere.
Coupe de la Ligue Live Scores:
Troyes 2-2 Tours
Marseille 2-1 Toulouse
Evian TG 0-1 Bastia
Rennes 0-0 Bordeaux
Troyes 2-2 Tours
Marseille 2-1 Toulouse
Evian TG 0-1 Bastia
Rennes 0-0 Bordeaux
The teams are in the tunnel and ready to return.
KICK OFF! Saint-Etienne, attacking the left, restart the match.
Somehow Les Verts have lost the ball already and Lucas brilliantly wins it on the edge of the visitor's box, before pulling off a Cruyff turn and winning a free kick. It's a great position, 25 yards from goal just to the right of the D. Cavani, Lucas and Motta all over it.
CLOSE! I was certain Cavani was going to take it, but he runs past it and allows Lucas to try to curl and effort inside the right post. However, he places it wide of the target.
SAVE! Now Douchez is called into action as Tabanou knocks a cross to the edge of the box where Cohade gets his foot through it. But Douchez can get right behind it to save.
SAVE! Now Lucas races to the right of the box before pinging a shot towards the far top corner, but it flies just wide following a fingertip stop from Ruffier.
Fast and furious start to this second half.
Saint-Etienne are enjoying a nice spell of possession at the moment, which they have found hard to come by throughout the game due to PSG's superiority.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE Brandao is being replaced, and doesn't look overly happy about it. Mevlut Erding takes his place.
PSG CHANGE Thiago Motta is taken off and Blaise Matuidi, who scored a late equaliser when these two met in Ligue 1 earlier this season, comes on to face his former club.
Little bit of a scuffle for the ball after the referee awarded a free kick. No shock that Verratti was involved, as he and Tabanou tried to rip the ball from one another.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE Max Gradel has just made his way onto the field in place of Benjamin Corgnet.
Saint-Etienne have had a couple of half chances, but nothing to really work Douchez in the PSG goal. The visitors just have a quarter of the 90 minutes remaining to turn this game around in pursuit of retaining the Coupe de la Ligue.
YELLOW CARD Loic Perrin stretches and catches Lavezzi at full space. A booking is issued to the Saint-Etienne skipper.
PSG CHANGES Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore are thrown into the action, taking the places of Lucas and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Brave header from Silva in his own box, as he heads away a cross with Erding's boot pretty much in his face. He goes down temporarily, but gets back up before long.
MISS! Oh that should have been the second for PSG. Cavani runs on to a curled ball the left and picks it up on the edge of the box. He takes a touch to his right, but snatches at the chance and drags it wide across the face of goal. It looked as if he took his eye off of the ball.
A little word on Menez, who was booed by his own supporters when entering the field. He's out of contract at the end of the season and won't be signing a new one by the looks of things. He could even be off next month, and hasn't kept quiet his desire to leave the French champions.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Saint-Etienne (Mevlut Erding)
Out of nowhere, the holders are level! A Lemoine cross is curled in from the right corner of the box to the near post, where Erding is left free to help the ball into the near bottom corner. Game on!
Will PSG be made to rue those missed chances? Time will tell.
CHANCE! Pastore floats in a corner from the right in towards the penalty spot where Silva is lurking. He shapes up to get his head on it, but from out of nowhere, Rabiot suddenly pops up in front of him and nods it over. The captain is not best pleased by that.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE Yohan Mollo comes on for the final few minutes of the normal 90, replacing Tabanou.
Vital challenge from Sall, who slides in to knock the ball out for a corner when Matuidi was ready to put PSG back ahead at the far post.
CHANCE! Ahhh it's greedy from Cavani in the end. It's two on two as PSG attack following Cavani running on to Pastore's nice through ball. He brings the ball to the edge of the box where he has the overlapping run of Menez to his left. But instead of passing, he scuffs a left-footed shot straight at Ruffier.
Four minutes of added time. If neither side can find a winner, we're having extra time.
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Saint-Etienne
There's the end of 90 minutes, and Erding's equaliser means that we will go for another 30 minutes to try to find a winner.
The teams are ready to get back underway once again.
KICK OFF! Saint-Etienne, playing to the right, get the first period of extra time started.
CLOSE! PSG should be ahead here as Lucas tees up Pastore on the edge of the box. The midfielder side-foots it wide of the right post, but he should be hitting the target from there.
Good start to the first period by the hosts. There's a bit more urgency about them.
YELLOW CARD Sall is cautioned after smashing into Pastore. He's the size of a vending machine, and just ran full speed into the Argentine. That's got to hurt.
Sall is helped to his feet by Ruffier after staying sat on the ground after his side won a goal kick. I think it must be cramp, but he's back up and running once again.
SAVE! PSG bring the ball forward from the right and pass it to Pastore on the left of the penalty area. He takes a touch inside and opens up his body for a shot, but it rolls along the floor into the welcoming arms of Ruffier.
PSG have been really wasteful tonight, and it wouldn't surprise me if it came back to bite them.
Nice scenes (in a way), as Verratti goes down in the Saint-Etienne box with cramp, and is being helped to stretch it out by Ruffier. They are all starting to feel it out there as we head towards the break.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Saint-Germain
We'll have a short break while the players stretch, take in tactics from their managers and get fluids on board before switching ends.
KICK OFF! PSG, playing to the right, get the final period of play underway.
Less than 15 minutes until we go to penalties. That's unless we have a winning goal before then of course.
Ouch. Cohade takes the ball right in the face after Rabiot tried to knock it past him in a 50/50. I bet that stung.
Now Ghoulam is down following a foul. Decent position for this Saint-Etienne free kick. It's to the left of the box, and the right-footed Mollo is over it.
Mollo curls it in towards the near post, where there isn't a green shirt in sight, and PSG can clear with ease.
Can't help but feel that this game is heading for penalties. Neither side seems willing to commit to finding a winner in fear of conceding themselves.
As I say that, PSG begin to up the tempo. Verratti threads in Menez to the right of goal, whose low cross causes havoc among the Saint-Etienne defence and is blasted away.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Saint-Etienne (Edinson Cavani)
Ding ding ding, we have a winner ladies and gentleman. PSG get bodies forward and seem to just go for it. Verratti has it on the edge of the D, slides it to Menez on the right, whose low ball across the face of goal is tapped in by Cavani at the far post. Heartbreak for the holders, who look physically sick. They're heading out, and PSG will have their revenge.
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Saint-Etienne
Blanc warmly embraces Galtier as the whistle blows because he knows how much this must hurt. The holders are out in the dying moments and look absolutely gutted.
PSG get revenge for their elimination from this competition at the hands of Les Verts last season and look delighted. Cavani wins it for the Ligue 1 champions in the final moments of extra time, to avoid a repeat of penalties and book their place in the last eight.
Before I go, here are the full-time scores from the last 16 round of the Coupe de la Ligue.
Coupe de la Ligue Results:
Nantes 1-0 Auxerre
Lyon 3-2 Reims
Nice 3-0 Sochaux
Troyes 3-2 Tours
Marseille 2-1 Toulouse
Evian TG 2-1 Bastia
Rennes 1-2 Bordeaux
Nantes 1-0 Auxerre
Lyon 3-2 Reims
Nice 3-0 Sochaux
Troyes 3-2 Tours
Marseille 2-1 Toulouse
Evian TG 2-1 Bastia
Rennes 1-2 Bordeaux
That's it from me. I hope you enjoyed the coverage. Until the next time, goodnight.
