First-half goals in the space of four minutes by Pedro Pauleta and Pierre-Alain Frau earned Paris St Germain a narrow first-leg lead over Benfica in the UEFA Cup Round of 16.
Paris St Germain 2 Benfica 1
Captain Simao Sabrosa had nodded the visitors ahead in the eighth minute at the Parc des Princes, but Pauleta equalised against his fellow countrymen when his speculative centre ended up finding the bottom corner.
Frau's classy winner six minutes before half-time means the tie is in the balance going into next week's return fixture in Portugal.
Simao's opener owed much to the foraging of right-back Nelson, who sped down his flank and delivered a teasing ball into the centre.
The Portugal schemer arrived at pace between David Rozehnal and Bernard Mendy to head unerringly into the bottom corner from seven yards out.
Simao, given licence to roam by coach Fernando Santos, ran the show early on, creating chances for Derlei and Anderson.
But they were spurned and the Portuguese side then lost centre-back Luisao to injury on the half-hour mark.
PSG, overrun until that point, suddenly clicked into gear and scored goals in quick succession.
The first was somewhat fortunate, Pauleta's curling cross from the left in the 35th minute evading everyone and somehow finding the far corner - via the post - past the bemused Quim.
The second, four minutes later, could not have been more different in its execution.
Neat footwork saw Bonaventure Kalou wriggle free of two challengers inside the area and he cut the ball back for Frau to guide home a left-footed finish at Quim's near post.
Frau should have made it 3-1 moments before the interval but he headed a Jerome Rothen cross over from six yards.
Just after the resumption, substitute David Luiz had a header from Simao's corner cleared off the line, before team-mate Fabrizio Miccoli shot just wide.
At the other end, Pauleta had curled an effort narrowly off target but PSG, happy to sit on their lead, were less threatening going forward in the second half.
Captain Simao Sabrosa had nodded the visitors ahead in the eighth minute at the Parc des Princes, but Pauleta equalised against his fellow countrymen when his speculative centre ended up finding the bottom corner.
Frau's classy winner six minutes before half-time means the tie is in the balance going into next week's return fixture in Portugal.
Simao's opener owed much to the foraging of right-back Nelson, who sped down his flank and delivered a teasing ball into the centre.
The Portugal schemer arrived at pace between David Rozehnal and Bernard Mendy to head unerringly into the bottom corner from seven yards out.
Simao, given licence to roam by coach Fernando Santos, ran the show early on, creating chances for Derlei and Anderson.
But they were spurned and the Portuguese side then lost centre-back Luisao to injury on the half-hour mark.
PSG, overrun until that point, suddenly clicked into gear and scored goals in quick succession.
The first was somewhat fortunate, Pauleta's curling cross from the left in the 35th minute evading everyone and somehow finding the far corner - via the post - past the bemused Quim.
The second, four minutes later, could not have been more different in its execution.
Neat footwork saw Bonaventure Kalou wriggle free of two challengers inside the area and he cut the ball back for Frau to guide home a left-footed finish at Quim's near post.
Frau should have made it 3-1 moments before the interval but he headed a Jerome Rothen cross over from six yards.
Just after the resumption, substitute David Luiz had a header from Simao's corner cleared off the line, before team-mate Fabrizio Miccoli shot just wide.
At the other end, Pauleta had curled an effort narrowly off target but PSG, happy to sit on their lead, were less threatening going forward in the second half.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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