Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Auxerre: Jeremy Clement Strike Downs League Leaders

After a very unconvincing run of form, Paris Saint-Germain improved their Ligue 1 standing considerably by beating league leaders Auxerre at the Parc des Princes.

An incredibly tight first half would ultimately produce no goals, although there was certainly a contender for the miss of the season award. Les Parisiens would step their game up for periods of the second period, with Jeremy Clement heading the only goal on 66 minutes.

PSG would control the opening stages of the game, bossing the ball, but finding life very hard to break down a resolute and rugged AJA rearguard. Early probes were well cleared by the likes of Stephane Grichting and Benoit Pedretti. The home side’s best effort was a tame headed effort from Zoumana Camara that looped up into the arms of Olivier Sorin.

Indeed, it would be the quick counterattacking visitors who would have the better openings. Roy Contout, who robbed Ludovic Giuly of the ball, was the catalyst, releasing Daniel Niculae, whose shot was saved by Gregory Coupet.

On 32 minutes the Romanian forward, who has tended to struggle away from home, blew a glorious chance to give the table-topping visitors the lead. Again Contout was the man to make things happen, eliminating Coupet with his pass to the striker, who somehow contrived to miss the gaping target.

A measure of how much PSG actually struggled offensively was clear early in the second period, when a quickly taken free kick released Stephane Sessegnon, who had enjoyed one fleetingly good moment in the opening half, driving just wide from range. The Benin midfielder delivered a dangerous cross that was headed narrowly wide by visiting defender Adama Coulibaly, which was les Parisiens’ best effort of the opening hour.

By no means was this proving to be the most enthralling of games, but there could be little doubt that PSG were gaining the upper hand inch by inch. Helping to fortify this claim was an effort from the surprisingly quiet Mevlut Erding, who clipped a header into the grateful arms of Sorin.

Though they were only tentatively chapping on the goal of the guests, the breakthrough would be made as the three-quarter mark approached. Ceara charged down the right and swung in a neat near-post cross, which was met crisply by the head of Clement, who guided his header home.

It seemed that this advantage would be immediately ceded by the home side when Mamadou Sakho rashly chopped down Contout in the box. Much to everyone’s surprise, referee Said Ennjimi waved play on.

Little more urgency was noted in the Auxerre game, although it would have to be conceded that PSG were doing a fine job of keeping their opponents constrained. In their efforts to shot their opponents out, Coupet picked up a serious looking ankle problem just five minutes from time, though AJA failed to seriously test Edel, who replaced him.

Due to the way results went on Saturday evening, the Burgundy outfit remain top of the pile, though that is not likely to remain the case for long. PSG have, meanwhile, made a very useful jump up the table, with their game in hand meaning that they are within touching distance of the European berths. Antoine Kombouare will expect his side to produce significantly better performances in the future, though.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com