As preparation for a looming Champions League showdown with Chelsea, this match couldn’t really have gone much worse for Paris Saint-Germain.
Not only did they surrender a two-goal lead in the final few minutes, blowing the opportunity to go top of Ligue 1, but they suffered no fewer than four fresh injury concerns as what should have been a routine victory turned into a real nightmare for Laurent Blanc and his team.
Yohan Cabaye, Marquinhos, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura are all doubts for the London club’s visit on Tuesday after departing prematurely in an encounter where Valentine’s Day affection was in short supply.
Cabaye was the first to drop, suffering a muscle injury in his leg on the quarter-hour and having to be replaced by Adrien Rabiot. Marquinhos then didn’t emerge after half-time because of a thigh injury, David Luiz taking his place.
And PSG ended the afternoon with just nine men after Aurier was carried off on a stretcher literally seconds after the final substitute had been made and Lucas then voluntarily walked off to protect a knock he was carrying.
Jose Mourinho, sat watching events unfold from home with his Chelsea team out of the FA Cup, must have permitted himself a wry smile as his next set of opponents dropped like flies.
And the bad news continued. Having established a two-goal advantage through Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second-minute opener and Ezequiel Lavezzi’s second, the nine-men couldn’t make their resistance last until the final whistle and had to settle for a point that dents their hopes of a third successive title.
In an ideal world, Blanc would have no doubt rested a few of his big hitters with one eye on Tuesday night’s challenge. But, as they like to constantly like to remind you here, PSG are the champions of France and rather proud of it.
So, with the Ligue 1 title race very much an open contest - PSG entered the fixture in third, a point behind Marseille and two behind Lyon - no chances could be taken and it was a full-strength home side who took the field. How he must have regretted that.
The fans were perhaps more interested in the return of the Champions League too - or maybe amorous Valentine’s Day activities elsewhere - as the Parc des Princes was only half-full on a soggy afternoon.
The vast majority of those present were out of their seats a mere 72 seconds after kick-off. Caen, resurgent of late after four consecutive victories hauled them clear of the relegation zone, hadn’t even touched the ball before they found themselves behind.
Aurier tore down the right wing and swung in a quite exquisite cross that Ibrahimovic met by simply extending one of his telescopic legs.
The ball nestled in the bottom corner and Ibra ripped off his shirt, revealing a tapestry of tattoos as he reached to the skies in celebration. The referee then had the audacity to book him. Zlatan wasn’t bothered.
Caen could have been battered out of sight by the fifth minute. Cabaye blasted a shot from 30 yards or more than swerved in flight and goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre punched it out. Then, on their next attack, Cabaye forced the over-employed keeper to tip the ball over the bar after Aurier had cut it back to him.
The hosts had almost exclusive custody of the ball and complete control. Aurier bombed down his wing, Lucas was a constant threat and Ibrahimovic his usual languid but stylish self. Marco Verratti was very tidy, completing 50 of 51 first-half passes.
They moved through the gears only when it suited them and a productive 10-minute spell at the end of the half put the game to bed.
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