THE MATCH: PARIS END IN BEAUTY
For their 63rd and final match of 2014, Paris Saint-Germain had every intention of recording a 43rd victory (12 draws and 8 losses). The final game of their Qatar Winter Tour, was a gala friendly match for Les Rouge et Bleu against Inter at the Grand Stade de Marrakech. Yeti t was the Italians that opened the hostilities. Set up by M'Vila, Kuzmanovic tried his luck from 25 metres out, but the ball whistled past Douchez's goal (4'). Paris responded through Ibrahimovic who saw his effort saved by Handanovic, before Icardi forced Douchez into another save on the counterattack (28'). The match was a friendly in name only as the two sides exchanged blows. Rabiot and then Matuidi were denied by an excellent Handanovic (37'), before Icardi saw another effort flash wide (43').
After the break, Laurent Blanc's squad got the upper hand. Cheered on by the 'home' support, they applied the pressure on the Inter goal. Ibrahimovic (46'), Camara (54') and Van der Wiel (56') all tried to break the deadlock... without success. That honour fell to Cabaye… Van der Wiel broke down the right and crossed low and hard. Wrestling with Matuidi, Vidic could only clear as far as Cabaye, who side-footed home (1-0, 57'). The final chances, to Rabiot (68') for Paris and for Mbaye (88') and Vidic (90+2') couldn't change the final score as Paris won their final match of 2014 and ended the year in beauty. Bring on 2015!
THE TURNING POINT: BOTH SIDES FAIL TO LAND KNOCKOUT PUNCH
After 28 minutes it was still scoreless when Chantôme spots Van der Wiel's run in behind the defence. He released the Dutchman who beat his man before picking out Ibrahimovic. Excellently positioned, the man that wore the Nerazzurri between 2006 and 2009 looked like he'd opened the scoring, before a magnificent save from Handanovic who, with his foot, turned the ball wide. Moments later, Roberto Mancini's men raced forward on the counterattack. Played through on goal, Icardi was one-on-one with Douchez, on the left of the area, but the Paris Saint-Germain 'keeper got down well and made the save. Two chances in the space of a minute that could have seen the game take a very different course...
A MAN IN THE MATCH: YOHAN CABAYE
Named in the starting line-up in midfield by Laurent Blanc, Yohan Cabaye produced a neat and tidy display. Whether it was winning back possession or providing the killer pass, the former Newcastle United man was everywhere on Tuesday night in Marrakech. From a corner, he very nearly provided the assist for Camara, who headed just wide (54'). A few minutes later, the Paris Saint-Germain No.4 opened the scoring himself. Following in after Inter failed to clear a Van der Wiel cross, he steered the ball home and offered his side victory (57'). Now he needs to build on this performance at the Altrad Stadium, against Montpellier, next Monday in the Coupe de France round of 64...