Nervy PSG hold on for draw at Ajax

Paris Saint-Germain escaped with a point after a 1-1 draw with Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena in their Champions League Group F opener.

The French side dominated possession without creating much in the way of chances in the first half. Maxwell consistently found room on the left wing, but PSG were unable to convert a stream of crosses into the box.

It was Edinson Cavani who broke the deadlock after a defensive mistake from Nicolai Boilesen. The young defender tripped under pressure from Lucas Moura, and the winger passed to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had a shot blocked, before the ball ran to Cavani to slot into the net.

In the second half, PSG had a flurry of missed chances that they were left to rue after Lasse Schone curled in a well-struck free-kick that Salvatore Sirigu failed to keep out. Ultimately, it was PSG who were fortunate to finish the game with a point, as their defence grew ever more nervous as Ajax looked for a winner.

14' - CAVANI SCORES! Ajax 0-1 PSG. Boilesen trips under pressure from Moura. Moura passes to Ibrahimovic, who has a shot blocked. The ball runs to Cavani and he slots home.

47' - MOURA MISS - Terrible miss from Moura, and terrible defending. Ajax play a loose ball in the defence, Moura pounces and speeds to a one-on-one with Jasper Cillessen, but he sends his shot wide.

48' - ZIMLING SHOT - Niki Zimling drives a rising shot from distance just over the top of the bar.

52' - IBRAHIMOVIC MISS - Ibrahimovic has so much space inside the box, from a tight angle, and he drags his shot fractions wide of the far post.

67' - MARQUINHOS HEADER - Marquinhos glances a header to the bottom near corner, but his effort is just wide.

73' - SCHONE SCORES! Ajax 1-1 PSG. Schone has a free kick 25 yards out. He curls a shot into the far corner, Sirigu gets a palm to it, but can't keep it out; his wrist too weak.

77' - SCHONE FREE KICK - Schone's effort swirls around the wall, and Sirigu pushes it onto the post with a save to make up for his earlier mistake.

Ajax have not lost to a French side at home since November 1996.

Lasse Schone has scored four goals in three appearances for Ajax this season.

Ajax's 13th appearance tonight was the joint-most for a Dutch side alongside PSV Eindenhoven.

Ajax have kept a clean sheet only twice in their last 14 Champions League games.

PSG have failed to score just once in their last 19 Champions League games.

Can PSG go further than last year? It would take something special, and lucky, for PSG to win the Champions League, and despite the addition of David Luiz they are probably no more likely to succeed. They have enough experience in the spine of the side, but against top sides like Bayern Munich they will still probably lack enough to progress. Ibrahimovic appears to be fading, so further spending may be required yet.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain): Despite those fading talents, he remains PSG's best player. His passing created numerous chances for crosses from the left, and he almost scored the opening goal. His self-belief, more arrogance than anything else, could drag his side further than they necessarily merit on the face of things.

Ajax: Cillessen 6, Van Rhijn 6, Veltman 6, Moisander 6, Boilesen 5, Klaasen 6, Viergever 5, Serero 5, Schone 6, Sigthorsson 4, Andersen 6. Subs: Zimling 6, El Ghazi 5, Milik 6.

PSG: Sirigu 5, van der Wiel 6, Luiz 6, Marquinhos 6, Maxwell 6, Motta 6, Verratti 5, Matuidi 5, Lucas Moura 6, Cavani 6, Ibrahimovic 7. Subs: Pastore 5, Lavezzi 6.