Live Commentary: Saint-Etienne 2-2 PSG - as it happenedGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole live Ligue 1 coverage from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard where Saint-Etienne host Paris Saint-Germain. It's the final match from France of the weekend, but it is no doubt the biggest. Paris Saint-Germain will return back to the summit of Ligue 1 with a victory tonight, but they have to win at Saint-Etienne, which is something they have found very difficult according to the history books. Les Parisiens, who are still unbeaten so far this term, have begun to play a far more fluid and entertaining style of football under Laurent Blanc than under his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti, which has had spectators in awe and, at times, the rest of the world surfing YouTube to witness their greatness - note Zlatan Ibrahimovic over the past week.
Saint-Etienne are really up for this and are not afraid to take it to Les Parisiens. PSG have been a shadow of their recent form in this match. They're not being given a chance to play their own game. YELLOW CARD Hamouma gets a finger in the eye as he beats Maxwell, which lands the Brazilian a yellow. Another corner in succession for the hosts. The ball gets caught between Maxwell and Ibrahimovic before PSG hack it away. That indecision just about sums up the champions in this first half. We will have one added minute. HALF TIME: Saint-Etienne 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain We have a game on our hands here. Surely Saint-Etienne can't do it to Paris Saint-Germain on the trot? The champions' unbeaten run is in jeopardy here thanks to Benjamin Corgnet's goal.
He gets incredible speed on the ball, but it flies wide of the near post. GOAL! Saint-Etienne 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain (Romain Hamouma) My word that is shocking defending from PSG, and they have a job on their hands now. Sirigu comes to catch a cross but drops it, the ball falls to Hamouma on the edge of the box, who guides a slow shot towards goal, but none of the PSG defenders can clear it.
As good as Saint-Etienne have been by showing no fear and shutting down PSG, the visitors have looked indecisive, lacking tempo and poor. Let's take a look at the half-time stats. Match statistics: Saint-Etienne:Shots 6On target 1Possession 37%Corners 3Fouls 5 Paris Saint-Germain:Shots 3On target 0Possession 63%Corners 2Fouls 5 The teams are coming back out now. KICK OFF! PSG, playing from left to right, get the match back underway. Saint-Etienne with an early corner which Mollo takes from the left, Zouma goes for it but can't get significant contact on the ball to create a chance. Verratti is fouled by Mollo on the edge of the box, giving PSG a great position for a free kick. Ibrahimovic is over it, right on the edge of the D, dead central. CLOSE! It is Ibrahimovic who opts to smash it towards the bottom corner.
CLOSE! PSG showing some more urgency as Ibrahimovic scoops a pass over the Saint-Etienne backline. It falls to Matuidi, who turns and smashes the ball, but if fizzes wide of the far post. Difficult chance, but that's more like it from the champions. Could this be the end of PSG's unbeaten record? It's looking that way. They have 35 minutes to turn it around. Needless to say, the home fans are in delirium right now. Lemoine, who is down with blood pouring out of his head, looks as if he is going to be sent off for a deliberate foul, thus earning his second yellow. He is staying down at the moment.
He runs inside and lays it off to Corgnet. His first touch isn't great, but the ball pops up nicely for him and he slams it into the corner. No chance for Sirigu. Saint-Etienne lead. Nearly a leveller for PSG, as Ibrahimovic competes with three Saint-Etienne players for an aerial pass. Ruffier can punch behind (after smashing Zouma in the face) for a corner. The corner falls on the edge of the box to Matuidi, who hammers a low shot towards the bottom corner, but it deflects out for a corner.
A lot of boos for Ibrahimovic from the home fans as he catches Ghoulam. The left-back actually looks to have followed through on his clearance and struck Ibrahimovic before making a meal of it. YELLOW CARD Brandao is booked for a challenge off the ball. Both teams have a player down and tempers are flaring early. Certainly no lack of action in the opening stages of the match, although neither keeper has had anything of note to do yet.