Paris Saint Germain 0 - 0 Toulouse: PSG held by Toulouse

Posted Monday, February 20, 2017 by PA

Paris St Germain were held to a goalless draw by Toulouse that left them three points adrift of the Ligue 1 summit.

The hosts, who had slipped to third in the table after Nice's win over Lorient on Saturday, were looking to extend their winning streak to four league games but despite 14 shots throughout the game, they could not find the back of the net.

Toulouse beat PSG 2-0 back in September but Pascal Dupraz's side could not break the deadlock to do the double over the reigning champions.

Edinson Cavani and Adrien Rabiot threatened in the early stages and PSG, who are unbeaten in the league since December, soon began to pile the pressure on Toulouse, who held firm in defence.

On 16 minutes Lucas Moura fed Cavani but the Uruguay striker shot just wide of the post.

After Kevin Trapp made an impressive save from Toulouse forward Oscar Trejo's long-range shot, the hosts had an appeal for a handball in the area waved away.

Early in the second half, Cavani sent a long-distance shot over the crossbar and fired another effort against the post, with the rebound cleared by the visitors' defence.

Just after the hour mark Rabiot was brought down on the edge of the area but PSG could not make the most of the chance, with Cavani's shot deflecting off the wall and over the bar.

The hosts' best chance came in the 68th minute but, after keeper Alban Lafont failed to make contact with a corner, Marquinhos' header was inadvertently blocked by his team-mate Presnel Kimpembe and cleared by Toulouse.

Dupraz was sent to the stand with 13 minutes remaining for hurling a water bottle onto the pitch in frustration after a clash between Marquinhos and Martin Braithwaite.

Serge Aurier's late cross was almost deflected into his own net by defender Christopher Jullien but Toulouse held on for a result which extends their unbeaten league run to four games.

PSG, who beat Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League in midweek, move above Nice into second in the table on goal difference.