Nice hold on to draw with Paris Saint-Germain, top Ligue 1

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Edinson Cavani grabbed a second-half brace as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to save a point in a 2-2 draw with fellow title hopefuls Nice at the Parc des Princes.

First-half goals from Wylan Cyprien and Alassane Plea sent the visitors in at the break with a two-goal advantage and seemingly heading clear in the Ligue 1 title chase.

But, a double from Cavani turned the game on its head and, but for some poor finishing in the latter stages, Unai Emery's men could easily have earned a maximum points haul.

The hosts made a tentative start but in the seventh minute Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale denied Layvin Kurzawa's powerful effort then did even better in getting back to his feet to push away Cavani's follow-up.

Thiago Silva had an opportunity to open the scoring from the resulting corner but the Brazilian defender's header was straight at Cardinale as PSG looked to step up their game.

While Nice were not overpowered during the opening stages, it was the Parisiens who were doing most of the running in front of goal and Silva had another opportunity from an Angel Di Maria corner but PSG's talismanic defender was unable to steer the ball on target.

Then, just after the hour mark, despite all of their early intentions, Emery's side found themselves a goal behind.

Thiago Motta brought down Ricardo Pereira on the edge of the area and, despite having previously been seemingly struggling with an injury, Cyprien stepped up and guided a well-taken free kick over the wall and beyond Alphonse Areola to stun the home crowd.

The hosts offered an immediate response as Cavani just failed to get his feet sorted from the impressive Kurzawa's cross, poking wide at the back post, before Motta's deflected effort from distance was palmed over the bar by Cardinale as it threatened to creep in the top corner.

Cavani wasted another opportunity after some poor control forced him wide of the target and Cardinale was able to parry his effort before Cyprien went close again at the other end as an engrossing half came to a close.

Then, in added first-half time, Nice struck again to heap yet more misery on Emery and his team.

Henrique Dalbert's delivery from out wide should have been dealt with by either Silva or Marquinhos but, instead, Plea was allowed to chest down before bamboozling both defenders and Areola with a finish into the bottom corner.

PSG's response after the break was immediate though and, with their first attack, Cavani prodded home Serge Aurier's pinpoint cross from a few yards out to hand the hosts a huge boost.

Nice were on the back foot and their inability to keep possession at length proved their undoing when Cavani struck again on the hour mark to level up proceedings.

Cardinale was to blame and, after his poor punch from another Kurzawa delivery bounced off Dante and into Cavani's path, the Uruguayan striker was left with the simplest of finishes.

The hosts were in full flow and Cavani went close to a third, volleying just wide of the target, before Cardinale dealt with a Di Maria shot on goal.

Cavani thought he had sealed his hat trick with 15 minutes left to play after turning Blaise Matuidi's delivery beyond Cardinale but the linesman's flag went up to deny PSG's top scorer his first triple of the season.

The hosts almost completed the turnaround in added time when Kurzawa's header looked like nestling in the top corner, only for Cardinale to claw the France international's header away.