Bastia 4-2 Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain surrendered a two-goal lead
to lose 4-2 versus Bastia and miss the chance to
move level with Ligue 1 leaders Marseille.
Julian Palmieri's outstanding volley from the edge
of the penalty area – his first goal since
November 2012 – gave Bastia the lead for the
first time in the second half, before he added a
second in the final minute as they climbed out of
the bottom three.
The first-half goal flurry began early as Lucas
Moura and Adrien Rabiot both took advantage of
slack Bastia defending to put the visitors two
goals ahead.
Any hopes of a routine triumph were thwarted by
two lapses in concentration as Ryad Boudebouz
converted a penalty after Gregory van der Wiel
had handled, and Francois Modesto headed home
a late corner.
Palmieri's sensational 25-yard strike completed
an unlikely turnaround after 56 minutes, Nicolas
Douchez given no chance as the ball arrowed into
the top corner.
Thiago Silva had PSG's best chance to get back
into the game with 21 minutes remaining, but his
effort struck the crossbar and – after Palmieri
had extended Bastia's lead – Laurent Blanc's
side were left to reflect on a failure to capitalise
on Marseille's 2-1 loss at Montpellier on Friday.
PSG looked threatening from the kick-off and
were rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes as
Lucas broke the deadlock with a composed finish.
Yohan Cabaye played a superb long pass over the
top of Bastia's defence and Lucas held off the
challenge of Florian Marange before lifting the ball
over the onrushing Alphonse Areola.
Lucas should have doubled his tally three minutes
later having been released by Zlatan Ibrahimovic,
but he dragged his shot wide of Areola's goal.
PSG did not have to wait long for a second goal,
though, as Rabiot netted in the 20th minute.
The midfielder was the beneficiary of some
assiduous work from Blaise Matuidi and Maxwell
– one of three changes for the visitors – who
combined to steal possession and set up Rabiot
to fire home first time from 12 yards.
Despite their dominance PSG then gifted the
hosts a way back into the game after Van der
Wiel handled a right-wing cross, with Boudebouz
coolly slotting the spot-kick past Douchez.
And, on the brink of half-time, Bastia were level
as three PSG defenders failed to clear a corner,
allowing Modesto a free header from close range.
No doubt frustrated at throwing their lead
away, PSG came out in full attack mode in the
second half, with Ibrahimovic the first to test
Areola from a 20-yard free kick.
However, a stunning volley from Palmieri gave the
hosts the lead four minutes before the hour, the
28-year-old firing into the top corner after PSG
poorly cleared a left-wing corner.
To add to PSG's frustrations, they were denied an
equaliser after 69 minutes as Silva's half-volley
thundered against the crossbar from a right-wing
free kick.
Still Blanc's side pushed for a leveller, but it was
Bastia who got the final goal as Palmieri met
Abdoulaye Keita's cross to volley past Douchez
and give the Corsicans a memorable victory.