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Paris Saint-Germain stormed to the top of the table with their third win in three games against ten-man Toulouse. Pedro Pauleta scored both goals in the 2-0 triumph.
After notching wins against Metz and Strasbourg, PSG duly dealt with Toulouse in the sunny capital on Saturday afternoon and now sit pretty atop the Ligue 1 standings with nine points from a possible nine.
They did not have it all their own way in the opening stages, as Toulouse posed a series of threats on the counterattack. A lovely interchange between Albin Ebondo and Daniel Moreira caused some panic in the home defence on 10 minutes, but Mario Yepes did enough to put Moreira off as he shot.
PSG nonetheless enjoyed most of the possession and carved out their first opening three minutes later, Pauleta feeding Bonaventure Kalou, only for the Ivory Coast forward to shoot well wide from long range.
Kalou then sent Jérôme Rothen free on the left and, after skating past Ebondo, the France winger crossed for Pauleta who failed to get a touch. The ball reached Vikash Dhorasoo at the far post and the midfielder should have done better than screw his shot wide of the upright.
The pressure became more intense and Toulouse eventually cracked on 30 minutes. Bryan Bergougnoux’s reckless two-footed tackle on Kalou resulted in a straight red card, leaving the visitors up against it and ensuring that the France Under-21 star’s first start for his new club ended in miserable fashion.
Toulouse regrouped but fell behind a minute before the break. Achille Emana was off the pitch receiving treatment – meaning Toulouse were down to nine men – when Rothen broke free and saw his stinging shot parried by Christophe Revault, the goalkeeper making his 300th Ligue 1 appearance. PSG skipper Pauleta was on hand to rifle home.
The Parc des Princes was in celebratory mood and they enjoyed some super football from the buoyant home team after the break.
The outstanding Kalou went close to doubling the score when his low shot grazed Revault’s post, but Pauleta made the points safe on 62 minutes with his second of the night and the season.
Modeste M’Bami slipped the pass forward and Pauleta took advantage of some hesitant defending to slide the ball past Revault.
The Toulouse ‘keeper denied Edouard Cissé and then Pauleta with a brilliant double save moments later, as PSG turned on the style.
Revault helped keep the score respectable for Toulouse, notably denying Dhorasoo with a brilliant tip round the post, but PSG will be satisfied with their evening’s work.
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