PSG vs. Lille: Winners and Losers
Paris Saint-Germain stretched their unbeaten Ligue 1 run to 35 matches with a dour 0-0 draw at home to Lille OSC on Saturday.
Edinson Cavani missed a great chance for the hosts in the second half, but they were unable to find a way past a resolute visiting defence on a rainy day at Parc des Princes.
Although his team was unable to secure another three points, PSG coach Laurent Blanc was pleased that his players didn't suffer any injuries just days before their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg against Chelsea.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta and Maxwell were all rested ahead of the clash with the Blues, and it was clear that those on the pitch for Les Parisiens already had at least one eye on the meeting with Guus Hiddink’s men.
Speaking with the French champions' official website, Blanc admitted as much.
"Despite the result, I'm very happy, especially with the attitude. It's a strange feeling not to win at the Parc des Princes, because we've been winning our matches for a while now. I think, tonight, we could have won as well. We created a number of good chances, but Lady Luck wasn't on our side. The players have been programmed for next week. We planned certain changes and we made them and we didn't have any serious injuries tonight.
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Here are some winners and losers from PSG’s 0-0 draw with Lille.
Winner: Frederic Antonetti
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Almost every Ligue 1 side views anything gained against PSG—especially at Parc des Princes—as a bonus.
Lille coach Frederic Antonetti will be delighted that his players are only the fourth side this season to take points off the French champions.
The 54-year-old tactician organised his defence well, and his players made it difficult for the men from the capital to break down.
For a side that does not score many goals, Les Dogues masked their deficiencies well and conceded few clear chances against their hosts.
Loser: Edinson Cavani
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Yet again, Edinson Cavani missed his chance to impress in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence, and the Uruguay international will particularly rue a missed opportunity in the second half.
Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama spilled a cross at the feet of El Matador, but the South American was unable to even hit the target from close range after turning to get his shot in.
It was a poor effort from Cavani, and the PSG No. 9 has missed good chances against both Lille and Olympique Lyonnais since he last found the back of the net against FC Lorient.
Winner: Vincent Enyeama
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After conceding six goals the last time he visited Parc des Princes in Ligue 1, Vincent Enyeama was probably expecting to face a similar barrage of shots on Saturday.
However, a PSG storm never materialised, and the former Nigeria international was not tested as thoroughly as he could have been.
When Les Parisiens did finally create some chances, they found Enyeama in his usual solid and reliable form, and he easily tallied his ninth clean sheet of the season.
Loser: Jean-Kevin Augustin
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Handed a rare chance to impress Blanc for a full 90 minutes, Jean-Kevin Augustin let himself down by missing a glorious first-half chance.
Played in by a sublime Angel Di Maria pass, the 18-year-old put his low shot too close to Vincent Enyeama, and the African was easily able to smother the ball.
Lille join ES Wasquehal, Toulouse and FC Lorient as teams Augustin has failed to impress against since the start of 2016.
Winner: Laurent Blanc
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Although he will have been disappointed that his side was unable to take all three points and perhaps a little concerned by how few clear chances it created, PSG coach Laurent Blanc will be relieved that his players didn't suffer any major injuries before Chelsea’s visit next week.
The runaway Ligue 1 leaders remain unbeaten in 35 matches—preserving their record run—and they also maintain their series of 32 home games without defeat in Le Championnat.
Considering their comfortable position in Ligue 1 at present, this was a match PSG could afford to not win, and Blanc will be more relieved than anything that his plans for Chelsea remain on track.
Loser: Benjamin Stambouli
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In the sort of match that he should have been impressing in, Benjamin Stambouli went missing for PSG and failed to make much of an impression.
The French midfielder, playing in Thiago Motta’s usual deep-lying role, did little to prove that he can replicate the metronomic Italian.
Aside from a few tackles and a free-kick won in the second half, it would have been easy to fail to register that he was even on the pitch at times.
