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As it happenedended

Early Edinson Cavani goal eases PSG past Toulouse

Relive all the action from the Ligue 1 fixture at the Parc des Princes

Kishan Vaghela
Saturday 24 November 2018 17:19 GMT
Comments
PSG are without Neymar and Mbappe against Toulouse
PSG are without Neymar and Mbappe against Toulouse (AFP/Getty Images)

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.

Cavani doesn't have his two star teammates alongside him on Saturday
Cavani doesn't have his two star teammates alongside him on Saturday (Getty)

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?

35 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse

Toulouse are really struggling to hold on to the ball when they win it deep in their own half and they are easily getting penned in by the hosts.

Very difficult at this stage to see how Toulouse are going to avoid a fifth defeat in six matches.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:37

40 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse

That's better from the visitors, who create a half-chance. Former Bournemouth man Max Gradel connects with a clipped cross from the right with an overhead kick but it poses no danger to Gianluigi Buffon's goal.

The Italian is in action a minute later though, tipping Gradel's whipped effort over the bar.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:42

43 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse

Despite their dominance in possession, the hosts have only had two shots on target this half.

They've looked open at times at the back as well and that has given Toulouse some encouragement with Gradel at the heart of everything. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:46

Half Time: PSG 1-0 Toulouse

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:47

Not the greatest of first halves at the Parc des Princes.

Edinson Cavani's ninth-minute goal looked like it was going to make it a long day the office for Toulouse.

But after that Alain Casanova's side dug in and did not allow another shot on target for Thomas Tuchel's side.

There hasn't been too much to do for Buffon either, but Toulouse settled down as the half grew on. 

Second half coming up in just under ten minutes.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:52

Just five minutes till kick-off in Turin where Juventus will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table to nine points.

However, the only time Juventus dropped points in the league this season was at the Allianz Stadium, when they drew 1-1 with Genoa.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 16:57

1 min: Juventus 0-0 SPAL

We're underway at the Allianz Stadium. Will Juventus make it a flawless November in the league?

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 17:04

46 min: PSG 1-0 Juventus

We're also back underway in Paris. Is there an upset on the cards?

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 17:04

5 min: Juventus 0-0 SPAL

Positive start from the visitors, who are obviously looking to get down the flanks and cause the Juventus defence problems in wide areas. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 17:08

50 min: PSG 1-0 Toulouse

Not much has changed in the opening five minutes of the second half.

Moussa Diaby has been a livewire so far but PSG have uncharacteristically been giving away a lot of ball in midfield.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 17:11

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