Rudi Garcia earns point against PSG in first game in charge of Marseille

Paris Saint Germain lost further ground on league leaders Nice as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Marseille in Rudi Garcia's first game in charge.

An impressive defensive display from Garcia's new team, who took over from interim boss Franck Passi on Thursday, meant PSG finished the night six points adrift of Ligue 1's summit.

The draw is set to heap further pressure on Unai Emery whose team failed to score at the Parc des Princes for the first time since March.

Looking to keep up the pressure on Nice, Emery's team looked to stamp their mark on the game from the start, but a well-organised Marseille looked to stifle the hosts as Angel Di Maria's dipping 20-yard effort saw Yohann Pele gather in what was PSG's best opportunity in the early stages.

Soon after Di Maria tested Pele again, after being picked out by Maxwell, and the unconvincing Marseille stopper was lucky to see his spill hacked away by team mate Doria.

Emery had clearly instructed his full-backs to get forward at every opportunity and both Serge Aurier and Maxwell were seeing a lot of the ball as the half wore on, but the home crowd began to show signs of restlessness as half-time approached without any reward for their dominance.

Getty Images

---

And it was Aurier who went closest to handing the champions the lead just before the break, following some neat work from Lucas and Adrien Rabiot, but the former Toulouse defender's effort with his weaker foot from inside the area was gathered comfortably by Pele.

Marco Verratti had a penalty claim turned down, after the Italian went down under a clumsy Rolando challenge, and that proved to be the last action of a frustrating half for the hosts.

Marseille threatened to change the flow of the game soon after the restart when Florian Thauvin got into a dangerous position but his cross was hacked away by Thiago Silva with Bafetimbi Gomis looming before PSG found their feet again and normal service was resumed.

Again, though, a seemingly well-drilled Marseille side under new boss Garcia continued to frustrate their Parisien hosts.

Emery threw on Blaise Matuidi for a disgruntled Verratti at the hour mark - the Italian exchanging a few angry words with the Spanish boss - but an immediate impact of added dynamism to the PSG midfield failed to materialise as desperation began to kick in.

Then, on 67 minutes, Di Maria escaped the Marseille defence for the first time since the restart, latching on to Maxwell's through ball, but having been forced wide the Argentina international could only fire into the side netting.

Soon after Edison Cavani had his first sight of goal after meeting Lucas' teasing free-kick but PSG's main man could only power his header the wrong side of the crossbar.

The Uruguayan had another opportunity to test Pele as the final 10 minutes approached, when Jese and Lucas worked a short corner, but an outstretched Cavani failed to make enough contact with his head to guide the ball on target.

Maxwell was next to have a go at goal with a first-time effort from 20 yards, but he dragged a stinging effort wide of the right post, before Cavani somehow missed an open goal from just a few yards out after Matuidi's delivery beat Pele.

And with that glaring miss went PSG's chances of claiming all three points as referee Clement Turpin brought an end to a goalless Le Classique.