Chelsea turn it up to 11, Ibra lifts Man Utd

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Diego Costa earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equaling 11th consecutive league victory.

Costa headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the 43rd minute at a foggy Selhurst Park to send Antonio Conte's men nine points clear.

"The run is fantastic," said Chelsea manager Conte. "Congratulations to my players, not me. I am pleased for them because they deserve this."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United won 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion, while champions Leicester City weathered the dismissal of Jamie Vardy to come from 2-0 down and draw 2-2 at Stoke City.

Chelsea have matched their record of 11 consecutive wins from April to September 2009, achieving the feat within the same season for the first time.

The only blemishes were yellow cards for Costa and N'Golo Kante that mean both players will be suspended for next weekend's home game against Bournemouth.

Narrowly beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in mid-week, Palace threatened to take the lead against Chelsea when Jason Puncheon scuffed wide from Martin Kelly's cross.

The visitors went in front shortly before half-time after Eden Hazard sprayed a pass wide to Azpilicueta, whose floated cross allowed Costa to nod in his 13th goal of the campaign.

Marcos Alonso struck the bar with a late free-kick, but Costa's goal proved sufficient.

Chelsea are nine points clear of second-place Liverpool, who visit Everton on Monday, and Arsenal, who travel to fourth-place Manchester City on Sunday.

"We can improve though," Conte added. "It is important to understand we are only at the 17th game in the season. We must not look at the table."

Jose Mourinho's United drew level on points with fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who host Burnley on Sunday, after winning at West Brom to record three successive league wins for the first time since August.

Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a header from Jesse Lingard's fine right-wing cross at the conclusion of a magnificent team move.

After Ben Foster had pushed a shot from Wayne Rooney onto the bar, Ibrahimovic added a second in the 56th minute.

- Negredo at the double -

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker darted between two defenders before scoring via a deflection off Craig Dawson, leaving him with nine goals from his last 10 appearances and 16 for the season.

"I keep saying that for me it is not his body, for me it is more up here," Mourinho told BT Sport, pointing to his head.

"It is a pleasure to see him play, his happiness. It's fantastic for a 35-year-old guy."

He added: "That was very good. We played really well at Crystal Palace and today, even better."

Leicester avoided a ninth defeat of the campaign thanks to an impressive fightback in a stormy game at Stoke, which left Claudio Ranieri's men three points above the relegation zone in 15th place.

Vardy was shown a straight red card in the 28th minute for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf, ruling the England striker out of Leicester's entire festive programme.

Bojan Krkic put Stoke ahead with a 39th-minute penalty after Danny Simpson was adjudged to have handled his cross, with Joe Allen tapping in a second in first-half stoppage time.

But Leonardo Ulloa halved the deficit, smuggling a header over the line from fellow substitute Demarai Gray's cross, before Christian Fuchs teed up Daniel Amartey to head in an 88th-minute leveller.

Discussing whether Vardy deserved to be sent off, Leicester manager Ranieri said: "One manager says yes, one says no. If you listen to me, I say 'no'. If you listen to Mark Hughes, he says 'yes'.

"I don't know if he touched the player, but he touched the ball. I was angry (with the referee) because I saw my players fight and there were so many yellow cards, but it was a normal battle in the Premier League.

"It could be a turning point today, but we have to wait and see the next matches."

Middlesbrough moved above Leicester to 14th place after beating Swansea City 3-0 courtesy of a first-half Alvaro Negredo brace and a Marten de Roon volley.

Swansea dropped to second-bottom, with Sunderland climbing off the foot of the table after Patrick van Aanholt's 49th-minute goal secured a 1-0 home win over Watford.

Hull City are now bottom following a 1-0 defeat at West Ham United, who prevailed through Mark Noble's 76th-minute penalty after the visitors had hit the post three times.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LIGUE 1: Clinical Cavani leads PSG, Monaco hit seven at Metz

PARIS, France -- Edinson Cavani was at his clinical best on Saturday with a first-half brace as Paris Saint-Germain eased to a 2-0 victory over Bordeaux, while Monaco thrashed Metz 7-0 to return to the top of Ligue 1.

The oft-maligned Cavani struck twice in the first half-hour at the Parc des Princes as PSG built on their midweek Champions League win away to Ludogorets in Bulgaria and got back on track domestically.

Paris had come into the weekend in fourth spot in the table having lost at Toulouse last time out, their second defeat in just seven league matches under new coach Unai Emery.

"It's possible this was our best match of the season, but in the second half we could have scored a third goal to make things easier and boost our confidence," said Emery, who welcomed the return of the club's ultras after a six-year ban.

"The atmosphere was good. It is more positive for the team and shows it's special to play at the Parc des Princes."

Cavani has extra responsibility as the spearhead of the champions' attack since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he came in for huge criticism for an erratic display in last month's Champions League draw with Arsenal, despite opening the scoring that night.

And yet with his brace on a bright autumn afternoon in the French capital, the Uruguayan has now scored nine times in PSG's subsequent five matches in all competitions.

Cavani got the breakthrough inside three minutes, attacking an Angel Di Maria cross from the left at the near post and heading past Cedric Carrasso in the Bordeaux goal.

Carrasso was kept busy, tipping a Thomas Meunier shot around the post as PSG came forward in search of a second goal.

They duly doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Layvin Kurzawa's low ball in from the left was deftly back-heeled in by Cavani.

It was the former Napoli striker's eighth goal of the season in Ligue 1 and his 13th altogether for club and country since the campaign began.

- Monaco rampant -

Monaco, who snatched a late point against Bayer Leverkusen in Europe midweek, pummelled 10-man Metz as first-half goals from Thomas Lemar, Valere Germain and Bernardo Silva put Leonardo Jardim's visitors in complete control.

Cheick Doukoure's dismissal on the hour left Metz even more vulnerable and Monaco took full advantage with Fabinho scoring from the penalty spot and Guido Carrillo netting his first two goals this term.

Gabriel Boschilia completed the rout, Monaco's biggest away league win in club history, as the principality outfit moved two points clear of erstwhile leaders Nice, who host Lorient on Sunday, with PSG another point further back.

"At 3-0 the match was over. Metz kept on trying to score so they left us lots of space, and with good counter-attacks and a solid team effort we were able to score seven goals," beamed Jardim.

"We've had a very good month of September in both the league and Champions League. But there is still a long way to go in the season."

Lille climbed off the foot of the table as Eder scored for the first time since his winning goal in the Euro 2016 final, the Portugal striker converting a second-half penalty in a 1-0 victory over Nancy.

Dijon fought back to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Montpellier despite a hat-trick from Chad international Casimir Ninga, while Mariusz Stepinski's winner alleviated some of the pressure on Nantes coach Rene Girard following a 1-0 victory over Bastia.

Caen beat Toulouse 1-0 in Normandy, with the big game of the weekend seeing Lyon entertain sworn enemies Saint-Etienne in the Rhone-Alpes derby on Sunday evening.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Winning start for Mourinho, Liverpool edge Arsenal

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored as Manchester United defeated Bournemouth 3-1 in Jose Mourinho's first Premier League game as manager on Sunday, while Liverpool edged Arsenal in a 4-3 thriller.

Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney were also on target at Bournemouth as United recorded a straightforward win that left them top of the table after the season's opening weekend.

Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Liverpool recovered from falling behind to Theo Walcott's goal at the Emirates Stadium, with Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also on target for Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Eric Cantona was here at the best moment in his career. This guy is more than a player," Mourinho said of Ibrahimovic, who opened his United account with a low drive from 25 yards.

Ibrahimovic, a free signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has now scored on his debuts in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

"For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team and the Premier League," Mourinho added.

Ibrahimovic, 34, said: "It's important to start good. Being new to the league is not easy. Everything is new for me: my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. I just play my game."

The charismatic Swedish star was handed a competitive full debut at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium along with fellow new signing Eric Bailly.

United's 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million) record signing Paul Pogba was unavailable due to suspension.

Mata, controversially brought on and then taken off by Mourinho during the 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester City last weekend, started on the right flank in place of Jesse Lingard.

United's starting XI bristled with attacking menace, but it took a calamitous blunder by defender Simon Francis for the visitors to take the lead in the 40th minute.

His woefully under-hit back-pass gave Mata a free run on goal and although Artur Boruc saved the Spaniard's shot, the ball rebounded off Francis and into Mata's path, giving him an easy tap-in.

Rooney made it 2-0 just before the hour, heading home Anthony Martial's mishit volley from six yards.

- Emirates goal-fest -

Ibrahimovic opened his Premier League account in style five minutes later, steering a shot into the bottom-left corner from range.

On the touchline Mourinho celebrated effusively and Bournemouth's consolation, a rasping shot into the top-right corner by Adam Smith, could not take the smile off his face.

"We dominated the early stages, but you can't gift Manchester United goals, which we did," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Spectators at the Emirates Stadium were treated to a goal-fest as Arsene Wenger's injury-depleted Arsenal were beaten at home in their opening league fixture for the third time in four years.

Injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, plus Laurent Koscielny's lack of match fitness, obliged Wenger to deploy Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding in an inexperienced centre-back pairing.

The hosts also lost Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi to injury in the second half.

Having previously seen his penalty pushed away by Simon Mignolet, Walcott atoned by drilling Arsenal into a 31st-minute lead.

But Coutinho equalised with a glorious free-kick in first-half stoppage time before making it 3-1 with a neat volley after Georginio Wijnaldum had teed up Lallana to put Liverpool ahead.

Mane, a close-season signing from Southampton, added a fourth for Liverpool with a slaloming run down the right followed by an emphatic left-foot finish.

Boos rained down from the Emirates stands and despite substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers replying for the hosts, Liverpool closed out their first away win over Arsenal since 2011.

"Scoring four goals is wonderful. Conceding three is the opposite of emotions," Klopp told journalists.

"It was hard work, but we deserved to win at the end."

Wenger said: "We played a very good first half and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half-time because the free-kick was very harsh. After that we paid for a lack of experience."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup, PSG clinch Ligue 1 title

Holders Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup by clinical Watford

Jamie McGeever, Reuters

Holders Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 home defeat by Watford in the quarter-finals on Sunday ending their quest to win the trophy for the third straight season and increasing the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.

Goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura after the break put Watford in control while a late strike from Danny Welbeck was all the hosts could muster despite several chances, leaving them set to end the season without any silverware.

Arsenal were aiming to become the first side since Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s to win the Cup for three years in a row but instead they slumped to a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions for the first time since November 2002.

Having to overhaul a 2-0 deficit at European champions Barcelona in their Champions League last 16 return leg next week and standing eight points behind Premier League leaders Leicester City with only nine games left, the FA Cup was Arsenal's most realistic chance of a trophy this season.

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Martial keeps United's hopes alive after Payet masterpiece

Reuters

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial kept their FA Cup hopes alive when he struck eight minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw with West Ham United in Sunday's quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.

West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet looked to be sending the 11-times Cup winners tumbling out of the competition with a wondrous, curling free kick in the 68th minute.

But with time running out, United's young French starlet Martial hooked Ander Herrera's cross back into the net from the narrowest of angles.

United will now have a replay at what will be the last Cup tie to be staged at West Ham's Boleyn Ground in the Londoners' final season there before they move to the Olympic Stadium.

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PSG demolish Troyes 9-0 to clinch Ligue 1 title

Reuters

Four goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurred Paris St Germain to their fourth successive Ligue 1 title with a 9-0 rout of Troyes, becoming the first team to win the championship after 30 matches.

Ibrahimovic's sensational nine-minute hat-trick at the start of the second half followed goals from Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot. Matthieu Saunier's own goal and further strikes by Cavani and Ibrahimovic completed the biggest away victory in Ligue 1 history.

PSG moved up to 77 points, 25 clear of second-place Monaco, winning the league with eight games still to play.

The championship is the sixth in the club's history and the fastest-ever Ligue 1 victory, breaking the record set by Gerard Houllier's Olympique Lyonnais in 2007, who won the title after 33 matches.

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Dortmund ease past Mainz as fan dies in stands

Reuters

Borussia Dortmund scored in each half to ease past Mainz 05 2-0 on Sunday and stay five points off leaders Bayern Munich with eight matches left in the season.

The Ruhr valley club were never troubled in the game, overshadowed by the death of a fan in the tribunes from an apparent heart attack, and should have scored more goals were it not for Mainz's Loris Karius.

The keeper single-handedly kept the scoreline low, denying Dortmund on more than six occasions with a string of outstanding saves as fans kept quiet, stunned by the sudden death among them.

Dortmund said a second fan had also suffered a heart attack but was resuscitated and in a stable condition in hospital.

"During the game there was a tragic incident where two people had to be resuscitated. One person did not make it," Dortmund said in a brief statement. "We are filled with grief and our thoughts are with the families."

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"Unbelievable" Kane boosts Spurs' title push with double

Reuters

Harry Kane was hailed as "unbelievable" after the England striker's 21st and 22nd goals of the season inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa on Sunday that boosted their Premier League title ambitions.

Kane ended Villa's resistance in the space of three minutes either side of halftime, taking his tally to 18 goals in his last 20 league appearances, assisted on each occasion by a superb delivery from Dele Alli.

Kane's double left a delighted Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to enthuse in an interview with BBC: "Harry Kane is an unbelievable guy who works hard for the team. I am very pleased for him."

The victory for Spurs consigned bottom-placed Villa to a 20th league defeat of the season while Pochettino's side moved just two points behind leaders Leicester City at the top of the table.

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Third-placed Real grab last-gasp winner at Las Palmas

Reuters
Real Madrid's Casemiro headed a late winner to earn a barely deserved 2-1 victory at Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday as they moved back within four points of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Casemiro nodded home from a corner two minutes after the home side's Willian Jose struck in the 87th to equalise after a misplaced pass from Madrid substitute Mateo Kovacic.

Sergio Ramos's flicked header had given Real the lead in the 24th against a determined Las Palmas, who had won their previous three league games to move clear of the relegation zone.

Third-placed Real are 10 points clear of Villarreal, who lost 4-2 at Sevilla in a game between fourth and fifth, but are 12 points off leaders Barcelona who beat Getafe 6-0 on Saturday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Avenging Ibrahimovic fires PSG past Chelsea

LONDON -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one and created another as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League for the second season running.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg of the last 16 tie, PSG stretched their lead when Ibrahimovic crossed for Adrien Rabiot to tap in and although Diego Costa's slick finish gave Chelsea hope, Ibrahimovic volleyed home in the 67th minute to complete a 4-2 aggregate success.

Victory took Laurent Blanc's PSG into the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row, while Chelsea were left to contemplate a first season without Champions League football since 2002-03.

"I thought we controlled the game very well from start to finish," Blanc said.

"Even when we conceded, we weren't worried. We carried on working. That control made the evening easier for us."

Ten points off the top four in the Premier League, Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are paper-thin and their chances of keeping their season alive in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Everton were jeopardised by injuries to Costa and Eden Hazard.

"They are a good side, but once we stepped up we had some chances. In the 67th minute it all changed," said Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink.

"It is a difficult season. We were almost panicking about relegation when I came in, but it is difficult to get into fourth place."

Much of the pre-game attention had focused on Costa and Ibrahimovic, and it was PSG's Swedish talisman who emerged triumphant as the French champions claimed further revenge for their elimination by Chelsea in 2014.

Sent off at Stamford Bridge a year ago, when PSG's 2-2 draw took them through on away goals, he belied doubts about his big-game temperament to keep the runaway Ligue 1 leaders on course for a potential quadruple.

- Motta careless -

Marco Verratti's failure to recover from a groin injury meant that Rabiot started in midfield for PSG and he almost cost his side an early goal with a loose pass that culminated in Kevin Trapp parrying from Costa.

But with Angel di Maria and Lucas Moura abandoning their wings at will, PSG's attack bristled with menace and in the sixth minute stand-in Chelsea captain Branislav Ivanovic had to slide a shot from Di Maria off the line after he had been played in by Lucas.

Ten minutes later PSG tightened their grip on the tie as Di Maria played a pass behind the Chelsea defence for Ibrahimovic, whose masterful low cross was turned in by Rabiot.

Leading 3-1 on aggregate, it should have been the cue for PSG to take the sting out of the game, but instead they allowed Chelsea to level on the night with a goal that owed equally to Thiago Motta's carelessness in possession and the hosts' dazzling interplay.

After Pedro Rodriguez nipped in to rob Motta, Willian played a quick one-two with the Spaniard before feeding Costa, who expertly turned Thiago Silva and drilled home left-footed.

Ibrahimovic put a header straight at Thibaut Courtois from a Lucas cross, but the hosts finished the half with the wind in their sails, Cesc Fabregas, Hazard and Costa all going close to levelling the tie.

Costa had another sight of goal early in the second half, David Luiz blocking his shot from Willian's cut-back, but the Spain international, who had been a constant menace, had to go off on the hour after appearing to hurt his calf, with Bertrand Traore replacing him.

Hiddink's side came close to making light of Costa's departure, but Trapp produced a sharp double-save to thwart Willian and then Hazard, and within two minutes the tie was over.

Motta's astute pass to the left found Di Maria in acres of space and his fine cross was volleyed in emphatically by Ibrahimovic.

Chelsea's mood darkened yet further with 14 minutes remaining when Hazard limped off, but their fire had already burnt itself out.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LIGUE 1: No European hangover for rampant Ibra and PSG

PARIS -- There was no Champions League hangover for Paris Saint-Germain as they continued their relentless march towards another Ligue 1 title by outclassing Reims 4-1 on Saturday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring twice.

The Swede got the opener in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League last 16, first-leg win against Chelsea and he scored once in each half here to take his tally for the season to 23 league goals and 30 in all competitions.

Ibrahimovic is playing some of the best football of his career at the moment and the 34-year-old also set up the opener for Gregory van der Wiel and assisted Edinson Cavani's goal as Paris maintained their unbeaten domestic record this season.

Prince Oniangue had equalised for Reims in the first half but PSG were too strong and remain a huge 24 points clear at the top of the table from second-placed Monaco, who beat bottom club Troyes 3-1.

Laurent Blanc's side extended their Ligue 1 record unbeaten run to 36 matches and the only black mark on their day was the first-half substitution of Angel Di Maria, although that was merely a precautionary measure.

"We are satisfied with the win of course, but also with the way the team played four days after a Champions League match," said Blanc.

"We know it is difficult to play before, but it is also difficult after because a lot of energy went into the Chelsea game.

"Ibrahimovic is in dazzling form and I hope that continues because we have more important games to play before the end of the season."

With Serge Aurier still absent after being suspended by the club for insulting Blanc and several team-mates in a video posted on social media, Van der Wiel started at right-back for PSG and it was the Dutchman who opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

Van der Wiel started the move and found Ibrahimovic before running onto the Swede's superb return ball to fire past Johann Carrasso, who was making his debut in goal for the visitors.

However, Reims drew level in the 34th minute when Kevin Trapp got nowhere near a Nicolas de Preville free-kick delivery and Congolese midfielder Oniangue gleefully headed in.

- Di Maria comes off -

Di Maria was then replaced by Lucas, apparently with a minor hamstring complaint, before Paris went back in front two minutes before the interval.

Ibrahimovic initially tried to exchange passes with Lucas only for Franck Signorino to block, but the ball came back to the former Barcelona striker and he tucked home.

There was still time for the hosts to make it 3-1 in stoppage time at the end of the first period, with Layvin Kurzawa and Ibrahimovic combining to set up Cavani.

The Uruguayan had been brought into the starting line-up after coming off the bench to get the winner against Chelsea and his first-time finish past Carrasso was his 16th goal altogether this season.

Blanc replaced the tired Marco Verratti with Blaise Matuidi at the start of a second half which was a quieter affair, although PSG got their fourth goal on 68 minutes.

Matuidi worked the ball out to Van der Wiel on the right and his cross was converted by Ibrahimovic at the back post, although he was clearly in an offside position when the ball came in.

Argentine striker Guido Carrillo, an expensive signing last summer from Estudiantes, had scored just two league goals for Monaco before the meeting with Troyes at the Stade Louis II.

But he doubled his tally in the first half in the principality with a brace of headers and highly-rated 17-year-old substitute Kylian Mbappe made sure of the points after Babacar Gueye pulled one back for Troyes.

Monaco have lost just one of their last 14 league games and are eight points clear of third-placed Nice, who drew 0-0 at Bordeaux on Friday.

Nice could be leapfrogged by Saint-Etienne if they win at Marseille on Sunday and by Lyon, who go to Lille.

Elsewhere, Martin Braithwaite's stoppage-time equaliser earned Toulouse a 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Gazelec Ajaccio, while Montpellier won 3-2 at Angers and a 93rd-minute Raphael Guerreiro free-kick saw Lorient beat Guingamp 4-3.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LIGUE 1: PSG warm up for Chelsea clash with Lille draw

PARIS, France -- A much-changed Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League showdown with Chelsea with a low-key goalless draw at home to struggling Lille at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Edinson Cavani had the best chance for the runaway Ligue 1 leaders but somehow missed the target with the goal gaping in the second half.

The result ended a run of 16 consecutive wins in all competitions but it did allow Laurent Blanc's side to extend their record-breaking unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 35 matches and left them still undefeated domestically since March last year.

Lille will be delighted with a point that boosts their fight against relegation, but this was a Paris side missing top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, captain Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta and Maxwell.

That quartet were all rested with one eye on Tuesday's last-16, first leg at home to an improving Chelsea, and Blanc made eight changes altogether to the side that beat Lyon 3-0 in the French Cup in midweek.

Of the likely starting line-up against the Premier League side, only goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, David Luiz, Blaise Matuidi and Angel Di Maria started, while Marco Verratti was back on the bench after being troubled by injury recently.

"We needed to avoid injuries and we did so. All that was missing was the two points we dropped," said Blanc.

"We could have played better but I can't knock my players for their spirit. We had five or six clear chances but Lille never gave up and I am quite satisfied. This match was difficult to play for multiple reasons."

Lille were without their biggest creative threat Sofiane Boufal due to suspension and Portugal striker Eder, freshly arrived on loan from Swansea City, was absent due to injury.

- Backs to the wall -

It was always going to be a backs to the wall job for the away side but they have the meanest defence in the division after their opponents and were rarely troubled in the first half.

Vincent Enyeama saved well from young forward Jean-Kevin Augustin and Layvin Kurzawa saw his header cleared off the line in a first period low on excitement.

Verratti, the Italy midfielder, replaced Javier Pastore at the start of the second half and Paris passed up a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 56th minute.

Nigerian keeper Enyeama dropped a cross from the PSG left and the ball fell to Cavani, who somehow contrived to blast the ball high and wide despite being left with a gaping goal.

Enyeama then saved from a deflected shot by Lucas, who had come on for Di Maria, as Lille held out for the first goalless draw at the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 since December 2014.

PSG are still a huge 25 points clear at the top of the table from Monaco, who visit Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

Nice, in third, host Marseille on Sunday when Lyon are at home to Caen.

Nantes moved up to fifth on Saturday evening by beating near neighbours Lorient 2-1 with Adryan and Emiliano Sala getting their goals as the Canaries made it 15 games unbeaten between league and cup.

Bordeaux bounced back from losing to Nantes in the French Cup in midweek by winning 4-2 in an entertaining encounter at Guingamp.

Bottom club Troyes got just their second win of the season, beating Gazelec Ajaccio 3-2 away to pull the Corsicans back into the relegation zone.

Montpellier climbed out of the bottom three by beating Toulouse 2-0 while Bastia got their first away win of the season, 1-0 at Reims.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com