Early Edinson Cavani goal eases PSG past Toulouse
Relive all the action from the Ligue 1 fixture at the Parc des Princes
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Your support makes all the difference.Champions Paris St Germain continued their perfect start to the Ligue 1 season as an early Edinson Cavani strike earned them a 1-0 win at home to Toulouse on Saturday, their 14th straight victory.
Uruguayan striker Cavani notched his ninth league goal of the campaign with a close-range finish just nine minutes into the game at the Parc Des Princes, but PSG's much-vaunted attack misfired for much of the rest of the match.
With attacking duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe both sidelined after picking up knocks on international duty last week, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel started with Julian Draxler and Angel Di Maria up front alongside Cavani.
Despite starting the day two points above the drop zone, Toulouse showed no fear of a PSG side that has been averaging over three goals a game at home, and their strong defending provided a springboard for plenty of attacks of their own.
Substitute Jimmy Durmaz was the driving force behind several promising second-half counter-attacks for the visitors, but the PSG backline, marshalled by Gianluigi Buffon in goal, managed to hold firm.
Reuters
Relive all the action below.
What time does it start?
Paris Saint-Germain vs Toulouse kicks off at 4pm (BST)
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with all the goals as they fly in via our live blog.
Highlights will be shown at 1am on BT Sport 1.
Player to watch…
Edinson Cavani: The Uruguayan heaped more misery on Monaco with a hat-trick last time out. The three goals saw the 31-year-old take his tally to eight goals from as many league games so far this season, and with both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar likely to miss the game after sustaining injuries on international duty, the attacking burden will solely fall on the former Napoli man.
Form guide…
Paris Saint-Germain: WDWWDW
Toulouse: DLLLDL
Odds…
Paris Saint-Germain to win: 1/9
Toulouse to win: 16/1
Draw: 8/1
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Prediction
PSG 2-0 Toulouse: Home win. What? Did you expect me to say anything else?
72 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
Change for the visitors, with Kalidou Sidibe being replaced by Trinidad and Tobago's John Bostock.
GOAL! Juventus 1-0 SPAL (Ronaldo 29')
He's into double figures for Juventus with that goal, finishing Miralem Pjanic's free-kick into the corner on the half volley.
76 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
PSG are living on a knife edge, and only a clearance on the line from Presnel Kimpembe stops the visitors from equalising.
36 min: Juventus 1-0 SPAL
The game has settled down since Ronaldo's goal, with possession being shared fairly equally. Just under ten minute suntil half-time.
83 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
The hosts could just as easily be level as they could be out of sight. The latest of the hosts' chances sees di Maria put through, but he curiously chooses to square inaccurately to Moussa Diaby.
41 min: Juventus 1-0 SPAL
Juventus are starting to find holes in the SPAL defence, and only a deflection prevents Pjanic from doubling their lead.
88 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
That was the chance to wrap it up for PSG. Substitutes Dani Alves and Nkunku combine, but the latter fires over when well placed and through on goal.
Half Time: Juventus 1-0 SPAL
Another pleasing half for Max Allegri and his side. Cristiano Ronaldo has inevitably scored the goal which separates the sides, precisely converting Pjanic's free-kick midway through the half.
SPAL started brightly and the door is still open at 1-0, so all to play for in the second half still for the visitors.
90 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
Four minutes added on at the Parc des Princes.
Full time: PSG 1-0 Toulouse
Far from clinical from PSG but they do move furher points clear at the top of the table. Edinson Cavani's goal came in just the ninth minute but after that PSG looked far from fluent in attack without Neymar or Mbappe.
Toulouse grew in confidence in the first half and in the second half they applied serious pressure on the PSG defence, who had Gianlugi Buffon and some last-ditch defending to preserve their lead.
PSG's task gets a lot harder in midweek, and they will need a much improved performance after Liverpool's convincing win today, but they have recorded their longest winning streak, extended to 14 today.
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