PSG collapse late on to draw with Caen, lose four players to injury ahead of Chelsea match

Paris Saint-Germain conceded two late goals to draw 2-2 at home to Caen as injuries forced them to finish the match with nine men in a testing warm-up for their Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The French champions, who take on the London club at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their much-awaited last-16 tie on Tuesday, missed out on top spot and are third in the table with 49 points from 25 games.

They trail leaders Olympique Lyonnais, who travel to Lorient on Sunday, by one point.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc will have injury concerns for the Champions League game, however, as midfielder Yohan Cabaye and centre back Marquinhos were both substituted.

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Full-back Serge Aurier could not finish the game either, limping off the pitch in the 71st minute, eight minutes before Lucas also left the field with a groin problem.

With Blanc having already made three substitutions, it meant that PSG finished the game with nine men.

"It's a scenario that is hard to accept. Given the nature of their injuries, I sincerely think that they are out for Tuesday and for quite a long time," Blanc told a news conference.

Caen, who were 2-0 down after first-half goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi, made the most of their numerical advantage and levelled with goals by Emiliano Sala and Herve Bazile in the 89th minute and second minute of stoppage time.

Ibrahimovic, who has been far from his brilliant best this season, showed a glimpse of his talent when he tapped home from Aurier's cross in the second minute.

The Sweden striker was handed a yellow card for celebrating by taking off his shirt.

Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring a goal against Caen (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

It was Ibrahimovic's third yellow card in 10 matches, meaning that he will be suspended for the Ligue 1 clash against Monaco on March 1.

Adrien Rabiot replaced Cabaye in the 16th minute after the latter sustained a possible thigh injury.

Lavezzi made it 2-0 six minutes before the break, firing home a low shot from the edge of the box past Remy Vercoutre after being perfectly teed up by Lucas.

David Luiz replaced fellow Brazilian Marquinhos at halftime after he also picked up a possible thigh injury.

PSG came close to a third but Vercoutre made a superb save to deny Lavezzi's header.

After Aurier and Lucas sustained injuries, Caen continued to push and reduced the arrears through Sala, three minutes before Bazile curled a superb shot into the top corner.

Caen's players celebrate after scoring their second goal against Paris St Germain (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

The game between Monaco and Montpellier was postponed because of torrential rain in the principality, the French League said.

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