Paris Saint-Germain went into their Champions League clash with APOEL at the Parc de Princes knowing that a victory could help to secure progress into the knockout stages of the tournament.
Laurent Blanc's men dominated from the off and went ahead after just one minute when Edinson Cavani volleyed his side in front, courtesy of some poor goalkeeping from APOEL stopper Urko Pardo.
The Parisians' might continued to be visible in the second half, as Pardo redeemed himself with some fine saves to deny both Lucas and Cavani, leaving an untroubled PSG defence to notch a clean sheet and secure progress into the next round.
Found out how all of the action developed by reading our minute-by-minunte updates below.
6.45pmGood evening everyone and welcome to our live coverage as Paris Saint-Germain welcome APOEL to the Parc de Princes in Group F of the Champions League. Laurent Blanc's men know that a win tonight could go some way to securing qualification into the knockout stages, with progress granted tonight should Barcelona earn at least a point away against Ajax.
6.46pmOn the other side of the coin, travelling APOEL will be looking for some crucial away points to help bolster their fading hopes of reaching the next round of the European showpiece. The Cypriots have certainly showed that they are no pushovers, having already earned a hard-fought draw against Ajax and losing out to solitary goals when facing PSG and Barcelona.
6.49pmThis fixture may seem like a simple task for home side PSG, but APOEL have also shown that they have the tactical quality to withstand some of Europe's finest attacking threats. Take, for example, their previous fixture which saw the Cypriots fall devastatingly to a late Edinson Cavani goal having defended valliantly when facing Blanc's charges.
6.52pmHowever, APOEL face a tough ask up against a Germain side that hasn't been defeated in 16 games. They may, however, be boosted by the fact that PSG have drawn six of their 12 games in Ligue 1 - with domestic troubles seeing the Parisians unable to create enough chances to turn one point into three in the French top flight.
6.57pmBlanc and his men are well aware of the importance of tonight's fixture. A win could help them secure qualification from the group should Barcelona earn at least a draw against Ajax. Yet this fixture is even more important given the Catalan giant's recent struggles in the Champions League, with three points tonight helping to shore up PSG's position near the top if Ajax prove too much for travelling Barcelona.
7.00pmAPOEL do have Champions League experience, with the team reaching the knockout stages two years ago. They've also proven to have a sturdy defence after conceding just three goals in three games against three attack-minded clubs. Tonight's visitors will also be boosted by the news that Swedish hit-man Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be missing from the action following injury.
7.01pmGiorgos Donis and his side do have problems of their own, though. It is expected that the key presences of John Arne Riise, Constantinos Charalambidis and Kaka will be missing from tonight's fixture.
7.03pmSome team news for you now...
7.08pmPARIS SAINT-GERMAIN STARTING XI: Sirigu; Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Van der Wiel, David Luiz, Lucas, Thiago Motta, Matuidi, Pastore, Cavani, Lavezzi
7.09pmPARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBSTITUTES: Douchez, Marquinhos, Aurier, Digne, Cabaye, Rabiot, Bahebeck
7.10pmAPOEL STARTING XI: Pardo; Joao Guilherme, Carlao, Mario Sergio, Ioannou, Efrem, Tiago Gomes, Vinicius, Manduca, Nuno Morais, Djebbour
7.12pmAPOEL SUBSTITUTES: Chiotis, Papazoglou, Artymatas, Alexandrou, Aloneftis, Sheridan, De Vincenti
7.13pmBig news for PSG then as key centre-back David Luiz is included in their starting XI, with many observers expecting the former Chelsea man to miss this fixture or start it on the bench. The hosts will feature a 4-3-3 formation, with a frontline consisting of Cavani, Lucas and Ezequiel Lavezzi. When they're out of possession that formation will change to a 4-5-1 with two of the frontmen dropping back to help out Javier Pastore, Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi in the middle of the park.
7.20pmIt appears that visiting APOEL will start with a 4-4-2 combination, which sees a strike partnership of Gustavo Manduca and the experienced Rafik Djebbour up top. They'll be supported by a flat four-man midfield featuring the likes of captain Nuno Morais and the creative Tiago Gomes.
7.20pmIf APOEL really want to bolster their slim chances of reaching the knockout stages they'll need to achieve something they've yet to notch in the Champions League so far: an away win. The lack of Zlatan's presence will be helpful for sure, but PSG still have a worrying abundance of quality on the pitch this evening.
7.22pmThe visitors' coach has been in good spirits in the build-up to this fixture, with Donis telling UEFA's official website:
"We are really enjoying our Champions League experience, playing against top clubs like Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax. But so far the results haven't been so positive. We deserved more from our three matches. Paris are one of the best clubs in the world, so we probably won't create many chances. We had a big one in Nicosia but didn't convert it.
"Playing Paris, Barcelona or Ajax, that's another level to playing in the Cypriot league. But tomorrow we'll try and implement the same tactical plan as in our last match in Nicosia against PSG, while making a few improvements. I'll give a bit more liberty to the players, so they can adapt to different situations which arise during the match."
7.24pmLaurent Blanc has also been speaking up and has highlighted that his side want to score an early goal in order to put the pressure of the clash firmly on APOEL:
"Our main objective is to win – we need those three points, especially at home. We don't know what will happen between Ajax and Barcelona, so we need to focus on our game. We got a very good result in Nicosia, so now we need to confirm it at home. If we don't score early, we'll have problems against this team. But we can really hurt them and that's what we'll try to do – we've been working on it.
"Ibrahimovic is not available. He's not very far from being back, but he's not quite there yet. It has been seven weeks now, but I can tell you he's been working very hard, so he hasn't lost a lot in terms of fitness."
7.26pmHere's what things were looking like about 15 minutes ago as the Parc de Princes awaits kickoff:
Le Parc des Princes à 30 minutes du coup d'envoi #PSGAPOEL pic.twitter.com/OiNDss79LR
— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) November 5, 20147.27pmAPOEL have also given us a glimpse of things inside their dressing room as they prepare for the game:
Έτοιμη για να βγει στον αγωνιστικό χώρο η ομάδα μας pic.twitter.com/qrmjoWcYgo
— APOEL FC (@apoelfcofficial) November 5, 20147.29pm15 minutes to go now until things get underway in Group F. I do fear for the visitors tonight. PSG are coming off the back of an encouraging 2-1 win against Lorient at the weekend, which represents the club's third straight victory in Ligue 1. They've got a wealth of attacking talent of display, which is backed up by the defensive experience of Motta and Matuidi in the middle.
7.33pmAPOEL will be proud of their current position at the top of their domestic league table, however this fixture could be beyond them given the missing presence of the likes of Riise and Kaka. It's going to be a backs to the walls-type job tonight, that's for sure.
7.34pmHistory certainly favours the Parisians, with PSG Paris beating APOEL 3-0 on aggregate when the clubs met in the 1993/94 European Cup Winners' Cup first round.
7.38pmOther statistics also weigh heavily in favour of Blanc's men, as PSG have not lost in their last 30 European home matches; their last defeat coming at the hands of Hapoel Tel-Aviv in 2006.
7.40pmFive minutes to go then! Time for me to give a prediction. I think PSG will have this one sewn up by half time, sorry neutrals... For me, the hosts have far too much talent to waste the opportunity of a possible qualification tonight. I'm fancying a 3-0 victory for Blanc's men.
7.41pmThe Cypriot side are known for their dedicated support, here's an image of how they're faring inside the Parc de Princes:
These APOEL fans are going to be fun! Too cold in Paris for even the hardcore to go topless though. #PSGAPOEL pic.twitter.com/b7ugtypEBm
— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) November 5, 20147.43pmThe players are now out on the pitch in Paris as they await kickoff. PSG will be playing in their home blue strip, while the visitors don a yellow away kit.
1 minKICKOFF! APOEL get us underway at the Parc des Princes, kicking from left to right. It's knocked around at the back with PSG pressing high up the pitch. It goes to the keeper who kicks long and the visitors end up surrendering possession.
1 minGOAL! PSG 1-0 APOEL (Edinson Cavani)
2 minMadness in the first minute of the game. Van der Wiel fizzes in an average ball, which Cavani dinks up in the air with his first touch before turning and volleying straight at the goalkeeper. Somehow the ball squeezes under the stopper before creeping into the net. Pardo has his head in his hands and rightly so. Terrible goalkeeping.
4 minPSG look confident as they move the ball across the pitch with a few neat touches. Maxwell and Van der Wiel are getting plenty of space down the flanks. The visitors need to be really careful now...
6 minAPOEL have hardly been able to get their collective foot on the ball in the opening minutes. Van der Wiel breaks down the right before feeding the ball inside. The hosts move it quickly without being tracked. Thankfully Morais offers a tackle and the hosts' move breaks down.
8 minGreat pass from Luiz as he brings the ball out from the back and finds Maxwell wide with some incredible vision. The full-back whips in a ball, which is cleared for a corner. The resulting cross looks headed for Thiago Silva, however he's tracked by da Cruz Júnior who clears over the crossbar and away from danger.
10 minAPOEL get things under control for the first time and they exchanges passes around the defence. They look for the long ball into Djebbour, but Silva comes across to head things clear.
11 minAPOEL find themselves with some space down the left channel with Ioannou marauding forwards. It looks like he takes a touch too many allowing Luiz enough time to make the tackle.
12 minThe visitors win their first corner of the night and it's a troublesome delievery into the centre of the box, thankfully Motta is alert and he heads away.
13 minCHANCE! Wow... What a miss. APOEL should be level and it's Nuno Morais who's the culprit. The visitors fire in a corner, which sees Sirigu having to make a point-blank save. The rebound falls directly to the Portuguese midfielder who is three yards out from goal and he can only somehow spoon his effort over the bar. Absolutely incredible.
15 minThe visiting team are slowly growing into this and they regain possession thanks to some sloppy play from Cavani. The ball is worked across the PSG box for a good spell, before a tame cross sees Sirigu claim with ease.
18 minPOST! PSG haven't really offered much since the opening goal. APOEL have arguably had some more important possession in the past few minutes. However, they're caught napping as Lucas breaks down the right before delivering an inviting ball for the on-rushing Cavani. The keeper reads it, but the striker gets there first. He connects with a header past the stopper only to see the base of the post deny him a second goal. Great effort.
20 minSome nice work coming to the fore from the hosts now. Lucas has time in the middle and he directs a quick through-ball into the path of Lavezzi, only for the APOEL keeper to read it well and come out to claim control.
22 minGreat play from PSG again and they're almost another goal to the good, but for a questionable decision from the officials. Cavani looks to have fairly won a knockdown, which falls to Lavezzi who strikes the post. The referee calls for handball, though. The striker is looking a little perplexed by that one.
24 minAnd again... the Parisians are looking incredibly smooth. The ball is sent a good 25 feet into the air, leaving Cavani to bring it down with a single touch. He then cuts the ball back with a fine pass into the path of Lavezzi in behind the defence, however APOEL do just enough to scramble away the winger's cross.
26 minAPOEL are hanging in there. They're showing some dogged defensive tactics, but you can't help but feel a second goal is already on the cards for the home side.
28 minSAVE! Incredible reaction stop from Pardo to deny the hosts. The ball drops at the back post into the path of Lucas, who fires in a great effort across the face of goal. Somehow the keeper is able to get down low to tip the ball away from the far post. Weirdly the referee awards a goal kick. The keeper should really be getting some credit with a corner for that one.
30 minDa Cruz Junior shows some impressive defensive qualities to halt the run of Lucas. The Brazilian looks to nip in behind the defender, who reads the play well to get a foot in and clear the ball for a throw in a dangerous position down on the right wing.
32 minSAVE! APOEL are working really hard, but it's not providing any dividend at the moment. There's lots of hard pressing in the centre of the pitch, however PSG are just knocking it around the corner and moving forward. This time it is fed to Lucas who races forwards. The winger crashes in a low effort, but Pardo is equal to it.
35 minLucas is showing some nice skill out on the right. He nips in and out of the defenders and earns a free kick from about 25 yards out. However, his delivery to the back post catches his teammates off guard and the visitors clear the danger.
37 minSAVE! Pardo is at it again to deny Cavani. PSG break at pace thanks to a standout tackle from Silva. It's three-on-three before the ball is fed to Cavani. He advances on goal and rounds the keeper, who is then back for seconds to sweep the ball away from the feet of the striker. Fantastic recovery. How is this still 1-0?
41 minAPOEL will need to do something at half time as they're quite clearly being overrun in this fixture. PSG are a little good at the moment. Blanc might be a tad frustrated that his side aren't further in front, though.
44 minYou have to think back to that guilt-edged opportunity for the visitors. You never know, they could get another and that's how precarious a 1-0 scoreline can be. Things have turned a little scrappy as we head into the final few minutes of the first period as PSG wind down before the break.
45+1 minHALF TIME: PSG 1-0 APOEL
8.32pmSo the Parisians take a 1-0 lead into the break, but they should be at least three goals to the good. APOEL have their keeper to thank following some fine saves. Blanc will be happy with his side's ability to create chances though they need to start taking them in order to kill the game off.
8.36pmNuno Morais won't be sleeping so easy tonight. His chance could cost his side their place in the tournament. He should have buried it, but instead fired over from a few yards out. His side still have a chance to stay in the game, however the way PSG are moving the ball suggests they'll need to take every chance that comes their way.
8.39pmPSG have dominated the first 45 minutes and the statistics back that proposition up. The Parisians have had 65% of the ball and seven attempts. Cavani has also hit the post. Such is the gulf in quality, the hosts have also completed a total of 353 passes compared to APOEL's 180. PSG have a rather impressive pass completion rate of 93% for the first period.
8.42pmSo where do APOEL go from here? They've done all they can to press the midfield and have taken to this job valiantly. PSG have just been too skilled in that department. For me it seems like set-pieces or a defensive mistake could be the only way back for the Cypriots.
8.43pmJust a few minutes until the second half gets underway, I fancy PSG to go out there and put this to bed. I'm still backing my original prediction - 3-0 to the home side...
8.46pmYou have to feel a little sorry for APOEL midfielder Vinicius, he's put in a real shift for no reward, having run 6.47km in the first half in a bid to press PSG.
46 minKICKOFF! We're back underway as PSG set the ball rolling. Sheridan has replaced Gomes for APOEL, who will start out on the left wing. Cavani goes close early on, but he can't make the contact required to see his volley trouble the goalkeeper.
48 minIt's not the best initial contribution from Sheridan down the left wing. He breaks into space until his woeful touch sees the ball run out of play for a goal kick.
49 minTerrible play from the sub again. He gives the ball away just outside of his own box, leaving Cavani to collect. He exchanges a neat one-two before curling an average effort over the crossbar from about 10 yards out.
50 minAPOEL are sharing a decent spell of possession early on as they move the ball across the centre of the pitch. The ball ends up at the feet of Djebbour on the edge of the box who looks to turn, however PSG make the interception and clear.
52 minPSG work their first piece of neat play in the second half. Matuidi has the ball on the edge of the area as he looks for Motta on the overlap, however the midfielder's pass has a bit too much on it and runs out for a goal kick.
54 minPSG should have another goal and it's Lucas who's a little too selfish. He's jinking around inside the box, with Lavezzi pulling wide to create some space. Instead of playing the easy ball to the free man, Lucas decides to try and round the defence before being tackled.
56 minLucas is everywhere in this game. He rushes down the right, beating two men in the process, only to see his cross needled out by the defence on its way to Cavani. Sublime play.
58 minThe hosts appear back to their dangerous old selves. Matuidi gets his foot on the ball this time and his pass is enough to draw a free kick on the edge of the box. Luiz fancies it having taken a rather dubious run up. His effort flies straight into the arms of the keeper without causing any problems.
59 minSAVE! Pastore almost has the home side two up thanks to a bit of luck that sees him bustle past the full-back and on towards the keeper. Pardo rushes from his line to smother the play as Pastore attempts a cheeky chip, only to see the keeper get enough on the ball to make the stop.
61 minStill APOEL are holding on... PSG need to get another goal to put this to bed. As it stands they've already gained qualification with Barcelona currently leading Ajax 1-0 in the Netherlands.
64 minSUBSTITUTION: APOEL make their third and final change of the game as Djebbour is replaced by veteran Alonefti. That change follows an earlier one whereby De Vincent was brought on for Manduca.
67 minPastore has had an odd performance tonight, he's looked a little slack at times but has then provided some real quality. This time he reads Van der Wiel's run down the right and looks to pick out the full-back with an audacious through ball. APOEL do just enough to stop the danger though as Leme Amorim gets across to clear.
69 minAloneftis does well to earn his side a dangerous corner as he breaks down the left channel. The striker cuts inside and takes a shot, which is deflected behind the goal. For some strange reason the visitors take a short corner and the chance for a troublesome cross disappears.
71 minMore pressure from the hosts as Pastore picks up the pass on the overlap down the right. He lashes a cross across the face of goal, only for Da Cruz Junior to get a foot on it and smash it away for a throw. Desperate times, really.
73 minLucas wants to kill this game right now. The winger breaks across to the left side this time and sends in a cross at the near post. Cavani is alive to it as he gets across his marker. However, the striker's header isn't good enough to trouble the goalkeeper as it loops wide of the post.
75 minAPOEL are on thin ice. They're doing their best to get forward only to see things open up at the back. PSG break away on the counter as Pastore feeds Lucas. The winger sends in a ball for the midfielder who had continued his run, however his shot flies over the crossbar. Wasteful.
77 minSUBSTITUTION: PSG make their first change as Lavezzi makes his way for the young Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.
79 minYou've got to feel for the PSG supporters. They're on the verge of qualification, but it hangs merely by a goal. Barcelona are now leading Ajax 2-0; meaning both sides are set to qualify tonight. A free kick of slip up at the back could change that for PSG, though.
80 minSHOT! Yet another chance for Cavani. This is probably his worst miss of the night. Van der Wiel is the creator as he crosses from the right. Cavani traps the ball with his first touch before lashing wildly with his right, only to drag his shot wide of the far post. He should have done a lot better with that one.
83 minAPOEL have defended superbly tonight, however it's a marvel things are still 1-0. Can you have a 1-0 thrashing? They've rarely put a foot out of line at the back and still PSG have looked a cut above the Cypriots.
85 minThere's a weird feeling hanging over this game now. PSG are shuffling the ball around tidily, though it looks like they don't want to give too much away through fears of an equaliser.
86 minSUBSTITUTION: Blanc senses that things need slowing down so he decides to replace the brilliant Lucas with Yohan Cabaye.
88 minVery little in the way of attacking play from PSG as we head into the final few minutes of this contest. It looks like they're now happy to settle for the 1-0 victory. APOEL still aren't giving up though as they continue to press hard across the middle. Maxwell advances down the left and seeks a return from Pastore, whose pass is too strong and runs out for a throw.
89 minGreat work from Cavani as he keeps control of the ball on the left. He feeds Cabaye in through the middle and his blocked shot lands at the feet of Bahebeck who wins a corner. Luiz is on the end of it, but sends his header looping over the crossbar.
90+2 minFULL TIME: PSG 1-0 APOEL
9.35pmBlanc and his men breeze into the knockout stages thanks to an incredibly comfortable 1-0 victory over APOEL. The visitors hardly played poorly and have still been dominated to such an extent that they'll be wondering what it feels like to string three passes together. PSG were brilliant this evening, but they'll have to sharpen up in front of goal if they want to cause more problems in the latter stages of the cup.
