Montpellier, France – Defending Ligue 1 champions PSG opened the new season with a 1-1 draw at Montpellier on Friday despite playing the final 20 minutes up a man.
Montpellier, which won the Ligue 1 title two years ago, took the lead 10 minutes into the match after PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic lost possession in his team's half of the field, allowing the home side to work the ball into the penalty area, where Remy Cabella scored from a tight angle.
PSG was back on level terms on the hour mark when Ibrahimovic nodded a ball down for Maxwell to fire home from a few yards, while the home side was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes to play after Abdelhamid El Kaoutari received his second yellow card.
Summer-signing Edinson Cavani came off the bench for PSG in an effort to snatch three points, but his close-range header was blocked by a Montpellier defender on its way into the net.
PSG had one final chance to snatch the win in stoppage time, but Adrien Rabiot's header was kept out by a diving save from Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren.
All eyes will be on big-spending newcomers Monaco this weekend as the club opens its campaign at Bordeaux on Saturday.
Lyon will be eyeing a spot in the top three this season and the club welcomes Nice to the Stade de Gerland, while Marseille also figures to be in the mix for a European spot and takes on newcomers Guingamp on Sunday.
The other contest on Sunday features St Etienne traveling to Ajaccio.
Saturday's slate of matches also includes Evian hosting Sochaux, Lille entertains Lorient, Bastia visits Nantes, Rennes tangles with Reims and Toulouse invades Valenciennes.
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