THE MATCH:

Former Paris Saint-Germain captain Pochettino would have hoped for a better result in his first match in charge of the Champions League finalists, having taken over from Thomas Tuchel. Pochettino required a Moise Kean equaliser (22') to cancel out Romain Hamouma's opener (19').

Lacking the injured Neymar, PSG were indebted to goalkeeper Keylor Navas for saving from ASSE defender Harold Moukoudi (9') before Jessy Moulin came up with two big stops at the other end to deny Kean (10') and Marquinhos (12').

ASSE's Claude Puel, like Pochettino a former Southampton coach, saw his side go in front after PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye lost the ball near his own penalty area. Denis Bouanga set up Hamouma to finish with an angled left-footed effort.

The PSG response was immediate as Italian international Kean scored his eighth league goal of the season. Marco Verratti was pushed into a more advanced role than usual by Pochettino and the midfielder played in his club and international team-mate. Kean pivoted to finish right-footed.

PSG had plenty of possession in their 4-3-3, which Pochettino later adapted to a 4-4-2, but were struggling to create clear chances and Saint-Etienne almost took the lead (70') when Bouanga headed against the crossbar. At the other end (71') Kean wasn't far away, while Moulin later denied Angel Di Maria (76') and Pablo Sarabia spurned the final chance of the night (90+3').

Pochettino is the 10^th person to take charge of PSG having previously played for the club and he'll have the opportunity to score his first win when Brest visit the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

THE PLAYER: Keylor Navas

That the Costa Rican international was PSG's best player says much about the game. While Navas was unable to keep the club's 11^th clean sheet of the season, Pochettino could be grateful to the former Real Madrid goalkeeper for emerging with a point, as Navas made a string of important saves.

THE STAT: 15

PSG are unbeaten in their last 15 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games against Saint-Etienne, winning ten of them and drawing five.

LYON 3-2 LENS

OL extended their lead at the top to three points as they held off a stirring Lens comeback to win 3-2 and extend their unbeaten league run to 15 matches. OL were three goals up inside the first 52 minutes with captain Memphis Depay (39' and 52' pen.) scoring either side of Steven Fortes' own goal (47'). Dutch international Depay now has 10 Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals for the season.

Lens scored two stunning long-range goals through Florian Sotoca (56') and Cheick Doucouré (90') to give Rudi Garcia's side a fright but OL held on and go to Rennes on Saturday with clear daylight between them and the rest.

LILLE 1-2 ANGERS

Lille fell to their first home defeat of the season and are now in third place, behind PSG on goal difference. Angers defender Romain Thomas scored a double in the first 11 minutes. The first (6') was a curled left-footer and then the centre-half exploited Lille's vulnerability from corners with a powerful header (11').

LOSC pulled one back through Burak Yilmaz (42') as the Turkish international forward netted his eighth goal of the season and the same player almost equalised (78'), his free-kick striking Paul Bernardoni's crossbar.

MARSEILLE 3-1 MONTPELLIER

After a disappointing end to 2020, OM got the three points they were after against Montpellier as substitutes Dimitri Payet and Valère Germain came to the rescue. Surprise starter Nemanja Radonjic (41') opened the scoring but Montpellier equalised at the start of the second half (52') through Florent Mollet.

Payet came on in the 73^rd minute and seven minutes later he put André Villas-Boas' side back in front before fellow sub Germain put the gloss on the scoreline (84').

REIMS 0-0 DIJON

Reims had the two best chances through Thomas Foket (3') and Yunis Abdelhamid (73') in a game that was short of attacking verve. Dijon didn't manage an attempt on target but they are now undefeated in five away games and the point they obtained in Champagne country lifted them above Lorient and into 18^th place.