Although it was not the most convincing of victories, PSG came away from Nancy with the three points and can now focus on Basel and Marseille next week.
Positives
The most important thing for the French champions was to return to domestic action with a win and they did just that. It was unconvincing at times and far from attractive but Unai Emery's men did what they had to do and remain within touching distance of OGC Nice at the Ligue 1 summit.
Starting the in-form Edinson Cavani so soon after a demanding international fortnight was a risk but it paid off for Emery. The Uruguayan scored to continue his impressive run of form and it turned out to be the decisive goal.
Substitute Adrien Rabiot did more in 33 minutes than many of his teammates did in the full 90 as starters. Emery needs to rethink his preferred midfield because the France under-21 international must be a part of it.
Negatives
Grzegorz Krychowiak continues to struggle in Emery's three-man midfields. It is not entirely the Polish international's fault, he has never been a deep-lying, possession-based player, and the Spaniard must adapt if one of Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti or Blaise Matuidi is missing.
PSG lost momentum after they scored their second goal. Coming off the back of an international break that saw many players on duty, with a number of regulars missing and on a synthetic pitch, it was somewhat understandable. That is why Emery has to utilise his substitutes better though.
The Basque tactician's refusal to make early changes again proved problematic. Cavani should have been withdrawn earlier to preserve him ahead of Basel and Marseille, while Rabiot could have come on earlier than the 62nd minute -- the same could be said for Hatem Ben Arfa.
Manager rating out of 10
5 - Unai Emery's starting XI selection was more or less the right one but he once again let himself down by failing to utilise his substitutes well. A better team would have punished PSG after the first 20 minutes.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alphonse Areola, 6 -- Beaten by an excellent Alou Diarra header, the Frenchman was otherwise solid and made a few useful saves. Areola's long kick forward led to Cavani's superb second for Les Parisiens.
DF Thomas Meunier, 5 -- After a promising start, the Belgium international faded and did not get involved enough in attack.
DF Marquinhos, 5 -- Although he was not at his usual consistent level, the Brazil international was still secure enough alongside compatriot Thiago Silva.
DF Thiago Silva, 6 -- The captain was the more solid of the two Brazilians in central defence but did not actually have that much to do. Cavani was at fault for Diarra's goal, the Nancy man was not Silva or Marquinhos' responsibility.
DF Presnel Kimpembe, 5 -- Asked to fill in at left back because of Layvin Kurzawa and Maxwell's absences, the Frenchman did a decent job. However, the 21-year-old picked up an avoidable late yellow card and suffered a few concentration lapses.
MF Grzegorz Krychowiak, 3 -- The Pole struggled in midfield and appeared to be moving in slow motion at times. Krychowiak is a fantastic destroyer but in the 4-3-3 his teammates prefer to Emery's 4-2-3-1, he is lost trying to play an unfamiliar brand of possession-based football.
MF Marco Verratti, 7 -- The Italian international was one of PSG's best players on the synthetic Stade Marcel Picot turf and gave everything for the most part of the full 90 minutes he played.
MF Blaise Matuidi, 5 -- The Frenchman got stuck in but aside from a few good tackles and interceptions, he contributed little else. Pushed forward after Rabiot came on for Jonathan Ikone just after the hour, he offered next to nothing in attack.
FW Lucas Moura, 5 -- The Brazilian scored PSG's opener but only because Cavani and Krychowiak failed to connect and the ball went straight in. Lucas tried at times to get his team going again after their second goal but was unsuccessful.
FW Edinson Cavani, 5 -- The Uruguayan now has nine Ligue 1 goals from eight appearances thanks to a delightful lobbed effort after some horrible Nancy defending. El Matador lost Diarra for the hosts' consolation goal and missed a few other chances but really should have been withdrawn by Emery after an hour at the most.
FW Nanitamo Jonathan Ikone, 4 -- Making his first full start in Ligue 1, the occasion seemed to get to him and the talented 18-year-old was quiet. Replaced by Rabiot after 62 minutes, Ikone must do more in future.
Substitutes
MF Adrien Rabiot, 8 -- The France under-21 international came on for Ikone with 28 minutes left but quickly established himself as PSG's best performer on the day.
FW Hatem Ben Arfa, NR -- The Frenchman was given 18 minutes at the end in place of Lucas and it was not enough time to get going in a match PSG had lost interest in some time before.
FW Jean-Kevin Augustin, NR -- Introduced after 87 minutes for Cavani , the France under-21 international needs longer than 3 minutes at the end of an already stagnant game to make an impression and gain experience.