Bastia 0 - 1 Paris Saint Germain: Champions Paris St Germain open new campaign with win at Bastia

Posted Saturday, August 13, 2016 by PA

Unai Emery was made to work hard for his first Ligue 1 victory in charge of Paris St Germain as last season's champions escaped the island of Corsica with all three points thanks to a 1-0 win against Bastia.

Layvin Kurzawa's solitary strike in the 74th minute was enough to deny the resolute hosts of a hard-fought point as the Parisiens began life without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a positive fashion.

Emery's men dominated possession from the outset but it was the Corsican hosts who fired the first shot in anger, but a weak header was easily gathered by PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

Bastia's counter-attacking continued to cause problems for the visitors as Sadio Diallo pulled one wide from distance before a surprised Enzo Crivelii wasted a decent opportunity, scuffing a shot wide just yards away from Trapp.

Angel di Maria had the visitors' first decent opportunity just before the half-hour mark but, after beating Florian Marange, the former Real Madrid forward's effort forced a diving save from Jean-Louis Leca.

Soon after Diallo sent a free-kick sailing over the crossbar as both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game, before Di Maria forced another save from Leca after Kurzawa had picked him out.

Despite seeing more than 75 per cent of the ball, PSG went in goalless at the break as Francois Ciccolini ended the first 45 minutes of the new season the happier boss.

The unchanged visitors picked up where they left off in the second period and but for a strong two-handed save from Leca, Di Maria would have opened the scoring with a stinging first-time volley from just inside the area.

A struggling Hatem Ben Arfa provided a glimpse of last season's form in the 55th minute when his incisive run forced a foul 30 yards out but David Luiz's direct effort on goal was gathered by Leca as the scores remained goalless at the hour mark.

The hosts were not having things all their own way though as substitute Gael Danic's delivery caused panic in the PSG area but Allan Saint-Maxim was unable to apply the finishing touch.

Emery threw on Jese on 65 minutes less than a week after the former Real Madrid star arrived at the Parc des Princes, but it was Lucas Moura who went closest moments later, his 20-yard effort sailing over the crossbar after he was allowed time and space on the edge of the area.

Proceedings were brought to a temporary halt when Lucas was struck with an object thrown by a Bastia fan as he attempted to take a corner but, from the resulting set-piece, Kurzawa went close with a drilled effort from just inside the area.

And it was Kurzawa who finally made the breakthrough the hosts ultimately deserved when he volleyed beyond Leca after the Bastia goalkeeper had initially done well to deny Jese.

All of the visitors' hard work came close to being undone as Bastia threatened but, when a loose ball fell to Alexander Djiku inside the area, the former youth team defender's effort was blocked as Trapp seemed beaten.

Thievy Bifouma dragged a late effort wide of the post from distance but Emery's team comfortably saw out the final few minutes to claim maximum points.