Champions PSG held to 1-1 draw by Montpellier in Ligue 1 opener
Montpellier’s Brazilian defender Vitorino Hilton (L) challenges Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) during the match on August 9, 2013 at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier.
Defending French champions Paris Saint-Germain were held to 1-1 draw by ten-man Montpellier in the opening game of 2013/14 Ligue 1 season.
Remy Cabella put Montpellier ahead in controversial fashion in the tenth minute after Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared to be fouled in the build-up to the goal. Maxwell, however, levelled the scores at the hour mark to earn new boss Laurent Blanc a draw in his first league game in charge.
Montpellier went down to ten men when Abdelhamid El Kaoutari saw second yellow 18 minutes from time but PSG could not make it count.
Cabella picked up a loose ball after Montpellier had seen a shot charged down and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu from a tight angle to score the first goal of the new season, in an otherwise dull first-half.
PSG, to their credit, were dominant in the second-half and deserved their equaliser, when it came from an equally unlikely source, left-back Maxwell.
Javier Pastore initiated the move with a lofted pass over the Montpellier defence that Ibrahimovic guided to the far post for Maxwell to smash into roof of the net from close range.
£55m record signing Edinson Cavani started on the bench as his side struggled in the early stages against a vibrant Montpellier side. The Uruguayan entered the fray in the 72nd minute and nearly scored with his first touch, but his header was blocked by a defender.
PSG will face Ajaccio in the next round, while Montpellier have their task cut-out against the money-spinning club AS Monaco.