Edinson Cavani's first-half strike was enough to give Paris Saint-Germain all three points against Valenciennes.
The home side had the majority of the chances in the first half, but the Uruguayan tapped in from close range moments before the break.
Valenciennes pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half, but were unable to find the target.
Read how all the action unfolded below:
Good evening! It's just under half an hour until kickoff, so let's take a look at the teams for tonight's game.
VALENCIENNES STARTING XI: Penneteau, Lala, Rose, Kagelmacher, Mater, Ducourtioux, Yamissi, Doumbia, Dossevi, Nguette, Melikson
PSG STARTING XI: Sirigu, Marquinhos, Alex, Digne, Jallet, Cavani, Matuidi, Lavezzi, Verratti, Pastore, Ibrahimovic
VALENCIENNES SUBSTITUTES: Novaes, Angoua, Chitu, Le Tallec, Ciss, Saez, Pujol
PSG SUBSTITUTES: Douchez, Camara, Maxwell, Menez, Motta, Rabiot, Moura
Despite Valenciennes poor start to the season, last season's champions have named a strong starting lineup, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.
Maor Melikson, who is the only Valenciennes player to have more than one goal to his name this season, will continue up front for the hosts, while Rudy Mater returns from suspension.
In his pre-match press conference, PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: "We are going to have a lot of matches. Players will come in to the team, others will go out to avoid injury. The fact we have players available and in form actually allows rotation."
Blanc's opposite number Daniel Sanchez told the Valenciennes website: "If it were basketball, handball or rugby, we would have no chance. But it's football. We will have nothing to lose. We are professional players, like them. We will need our fans. We're all in the same boat because we want the situation to improve."
In their most recent matches, PSG shared the points with Monaco, while Valenciennes were crushed by Nice.
PREDICTION! With just a couple of minutes until kickoff, it's time for a prediction. Valenciennes are a better team than their recent form suggests, I can't see them turning it around against PSG. I think the visitors should have a relatively comfortable night, so I'm going for a 3-0 win.
The players are just coming out of the tunnel ready for the start of this evening's game.
Valenciennes get the game underway.
CHANCE! Ibrahimovic wins the ball inside the PSG half and charges towards the Valenciennes penalty area before passing to Pastore, who only has the keeper to beat, but he slices his shot high.
Pastore plays his way into the box again, picking up the ball following some excellent footwork from Cavani on the edge of the box. However, one again the Argentinian sends his finish high.
Kagelmacher sends a long throw in towards the PSG penalty area, which Nguette tries to convert from just inside the box, but Digne is able to make the block. Dossevi tries to play it back in for the hosts, but the PSG back four hold strong.
Having tried to provide his teammates with a couple of chances already tonight, Ibrahimovic calls for the ball as he runs towards the Valenciennes box, but he times his run a fraction to early, and finds himself offside.
Jallet makes a couple of strong runs down the right side as PSG continue to press for an early goal, but he twice runs out of room as he comes under pressure from Mater. Cavani tries to find his way in from the left, but Penneteau claims his cross before it reaches any of his teammates.
Ibrahimovic chips the ball out wide for Digne, who makes a brilliant cross into the box for Cavani, but the summer signing can't quite jump high enough to make the header. All the pressure is coming from the visitors at the moment.
Doumbia picks up the ball in a strong position, but is brought down by Pastore as he tries to break into the box, gifting the home side a free kick from a dangerous area. Yamissi takes the free kick, and tries to keep it low, but he scuffs his effort, giving Sirigu an easy stop.
Valenciennes are just starting to find their way into this game. Yamissi makes a superb run from out wide to deliver a cross for Melikson, which is clearedm before Dossevi is bundled down on the edge of the box. Melikson takes the free kick, but PSG are able to clear the initial danger.
CHANCE! Mater gets the better of Alex near the corner flag before curling the ball in for Dossevi. The striker rises for the header from point-blank range, but doesn't quite reach the ball. The slightest of contacts would have surely given Valenciennes the lead. They really have been superb in the last five minutes.
PSG up the tempo as they try to regain control of this match. Digne, who has played a very attacking role so far tonight, sends in a dangerous cross, which is knocked behind for the first corner of the match.
BOOKING! The referee blows for a foul by Lavezzi inside the box in the build up to PSG's corner. The midfielder argues, believing that he'd done nothing wrong, but he earns himself a booking for his complaints. Looking at the replays, it does look like Lavezzi may have had a point.
Melikson gets in a tangle with Ibrahimovic. The Valenciennes striker is left in pain on the ground as result of their battle. It doesn't look like there was a foul by the PSG talisman, but it's left the Valenciennes striker looking rather uncomfortable.
There's absolutely no urgency in PSG's play at the moment. If they get the ball they'll go on the attack, but the visitors aren't chasing down their opponents, and it's allowing the hosts to get more confident.
BOOKING! PSG carelessly give the ball away in midfield. Verratti tries to win it back, but the Italian charges into Doumbia, and is shown a yellow card.
CHANCE! The hosts are on the attack again, and Doumbia gets the ball deep inside the penalty area, but he doesn't have time to control it before it goes before for a goal kick.
Ibrahimovic clashes with Mater, resulting in a free kick for the hosts. The Swedish striker pleads his innocence with the referee, but he's not interest. Discipline has become a bit of a problem as this first half has gone on.
BOOKING! Digne goes is high on Mater, catching the Valenciennes defender recklessly with his studs on his back. The move results in PSG's this booking of the first half.
PSG try to apply some pressure late in the first half, but Ibrahimovic's delivery into the box is comfortably taken by Penneteau. Meanwhile, Mater, who tried to continue following the Digne challenge appears to be coming off.
SUB! Mater does indeed come off, with Saliou Ciss taking his place.
GOAL! Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-German (Cavani)
Cavani has barely seen the ball in this first half, but a superb break by Ibrahimovic sees the Uruguayan pop up at close range to tap in the opening goal of the game.
HALF TIME: Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
It's a cruel end to the first half for Valenciennes, who had looked the better side for much of the opening 45 minutes. However, a late moment of brilliant by Ibrahimovic allowed Cavani an easy tap in to give PSG the lead just before the half-time whistle.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions had looked pretty lethargic up until the Cavani goal, rarely pressing their opponents, and giving away cheap free kicks. Laurent Blanc still has work to do at half time if he is to see his side improve after the break.
Let's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Cavani's late strike was the visitors' only effort on target in the opening period. They had four shots in total. The home side had seven effort, with two testing Sirigu. PSG just edged the possession with 55%.
If you're interested in the matches elsewhere in Ligue 1 tonight, here are the half-time scores:
Ajaccio 1-0 Lyon, Bordeaux 0-0 Reims, Guingamp 3-0 Sochaux, Nantes 1-0 Nice, Toulouse 0-0 Lorient
Monaco will also be in action later tonight. They host Bastia in the 8pm kickoff.
SUB! PSG are making a change ahead of the second half, with Alex making way for Zoumana Camara.
PSG get the second half underway.
CHANCE! Valenciennes look to make an impact early on, and Marquihos has to but the ball behind for a corner. Rose gets a good header from around five yards out, but Penneteau just makes the save off the line.
Lala makes a superb run down the right-hand side before brilliantly crossing into the box, but once again Penneteau is sharp, and makes the catch before Melikson, who was rushing into the box, can reach it.
Valenciennes have really come out fighting at the start of this second half. As well as applying some pressure inside the PSG box, some impressive defending by Kagelmacher is causing all sorts of problems for Ibrahimovic.
Cavani makes a brilliant run at the Valenciennes box, before crossing for Lavezzi, but the midfielder is caught in two minds whether to take on the shot or play the ball back to Cavani, and gives Kagelmacher time to make the clearance.
Digne picks up a knock following a collision with Lala. There was no foul, but the Valenciennes defender managed to land on Digne's shin.
PENALTY APPEAL! The home side are continuing to push for an equaliser, and believe that they should have had the opportunity from the spot when Verrazzi clears the ball, claiming that the PSG midfielder used his hand, but the referee says otherwise.
PSG finally manage to get some solid possession, albeit just among the back four, but they really haven't had a prolonged spell on the ball in this second half. Digne manages to bring it out from the back, eventually looking for the cross, but Penneteau makes the stop.
SUB! Ezequiel Lavezzi makes way for Adrien Rabiot.
SUB! Maor Melikson, who has been kept pretty quiet tonight, heads off, with Anthony Le Tallec taking his place.
BOOKING! David Ducourtioux is shown a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Verratti.
CHANCE! Pastore comes close to making it two for PSG with a drilled effort from just outside the box, but Penneteau watches it all the way.
CHANCE! Ibrahimovic puts the ball in for Cavani, but he scuffs his shot, and it bobbles harmlessly wide for a goal kick.
PSG are starting to keep the ball much better, as Valenciennes look to be tiring. Although the hosts are comfortably holding the ball in midfield, they're still lacking a bit of urgency up front.
Ibrahimovic tries to force his way down the wing, but loses possession in a battle with Kagelmacher, before Dossevi tries to take the ball down the other end on the counter attack.
BOOKING! Rabiot brings down Doumbia on the edge of the area, picking up a yellow card, and giving the hosts a free kick from a strong position.
Rose attempts to lash it in from 20 yards out, but Verratti sprints from the wall to block the shot less than two yards from the defender's boot.
Ibrahimovic leads PSG on the counter attack. He crosses in for Cavani, but the Uruguayan's finish is put wide for a corner. Ibrahimovic takes it, but the ball is calmly punched away by Penneyeau.
SUB! The home side make their final change as Ducourtioux makes way for Aurelian Chitu.
PSG appear to be putting all their resources into defending at the moment. Truthfully, the 1-0 lead flatters them, and they know they'll do well to leave here with all three points. However, Cavani has just given away another free kick on the box.
CHANCE! It's a wonderful strike from Le Tallec, as he expertly guides the ball up and over the wall. The ball is dipping under the crossbar, but just curls wide. Valenciennes were inches from being level.
SUB! The goalscorer, Cavani, goes off, as Thiago Motta comes on for the last five minutes.
Valenciennes are frantically passing the ball as they desperately seek a late equaliser, but PSG are defending well.
CHANCE! Dossevi runs from deep inside the Valenciennes half to cross the ball in from the edge of the box for Le Tallec, but Dossevi's effort is put behind for a corner before the striker can get his outstretched foot to it.
Valenciennes have numbers forward, and force another corner, but PSG manage to get it clear. The visitors win a free kick, which Ibrahimovic takes his time over, but the hosts get it back again.
FULL TIME: Valenciennes 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Edinson Cavani's goal is enough to send PSG back to the top of the Ligue 1 table, but Monaco can go back above them with the right result against Bastia. That's all from this game tonight, but stick around for live commentary from Monaco. Thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
