moved top of Ligue 1 with dramatic 3-2 victory at Metz on
Friday night.
Boosted by the fit-again Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to the
starting line-up for the first time since September, the reigning
French champions looked set to ease to victory at the Stade
Saint-Symphorien after claiming two early goals, with Javier
Pastore breaking the deadlock with a dinked finish before
Gaetan Bussmann put through his own net.
Modibo Maiga responded with two penalties in the space of four
second-half minutes, but the visitors ultimately prevailed
courtesy of an 83rd-minute winner from Ezequiel Lavezzi.
The victory moves PSG two points ahead of Olympique de
Marseille, but Marcelo Bielsa's side can retake top spot with
victory over Bordeaux on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic was one of six changes to the PSG side that
defeated Marseille before the international break, the Sweden
international replacing Edinson Cavani up front.
Metz made two alterations from their last league fixture, with
Bussmann and Bouna Sarr replacing Jose Palomino and Thibaut
Vion, and the hosts started well with two early efforts on goal.
However, they were easily saved by Salvatore Sirigu and PSG
punished their opponents' profligacy with the opening goal on
nine minutes, albeit aided by poor Metz defending.
Jeremy Choplin dallied in possession 25 yards from goal,
allowing Pastore to steal the ball. He duly held off Guido Milan's
challenge and calmly lifted the ball over Johann Carrasso.
The charity continued in the 16th minute as PSG were gifted a
second goal, the unfortunate Bussmann deflecting a Lavezzi
free-kick into his own net.
Former Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda went close to
halving Metz's deficit midway through the first half, but the 34-
year-old volleyed just wide after a Maiga knockdown.
Having weathered the PSG threat, Metz began to get a foothold
in the game, and eight minutes before the break Guirane N'Daw
wasted a good chance, heading wide from Romain Metanire's
cross.
There was still time for Adrien Rabiot to have a goal disallowed
before the break, but three minutes into the second half the
game was turned on its head.
Rabiot gave Metz a way back into the match by fouling substitut
Sergey Krivets in the penalty area, and Maiga made no mistake
from 12 yards with a calm finish to the right of Sirigu.
Four minutes later the scores were level as the hosts were
awarded another penalty after a Gregory van der Wiel handball.
Maiga again sent Sirigu the wrong way to complete Metz's
comeback.
The Mali striker could have had a hat-trick on 69 minutes as he
was given the freedom of PSG's box to meet a Metanire cross,
but Sirigu got down well to push away a downward header.
Lavezzi then grabbed the decisive goal, the Argentine pouncing
from a yard after Carrasso had partially stopped a strike from
Ibrahimovic.
N'Daw fired into the side netting at the other end, but PSG were
not to be denied victory and would have added a fourth had
Carrasso not made a superb double save to deny substitute
Cavani and Ibrahimovic.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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