PSG curse Rothen luck as Braga earn draw

Paris Saint-Germain FC failed to make their second-half dominance count as they were held to a goalless draw by SC Braga in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie.

Off the post
The home side only came to life after the interval and they proceeded to pass up a number of good chances, Jérôme Rothen coming closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the post on the hour mark. Braga failed to build on an impressive opening 45 minutes and will be happy with a draw in the end, tilting the tie slightly in their favour ahead of next week's return leg.

Listless half
Flying high in Ligue 1, PSG started with a 4-5-1 formation but left lone striker Péguy Luyindula too often isolated in a listless first half as Braga controlled. Jorge Jesus's men had the better of possession and passed the ball around neatly, though they did not trouble Édel until the 25th minute, when the PSG goalkeeper dived at the feet of Renteria. The hosts' only meaningful effort on goal before the break came from Stéphane Sessegnon, with his 39th-minute effort from distance deflected wide.

PSG perk up
Things livened up in the second half, and Braga goalkeeper Eduardo did well to tip over Clément Chantôme's powerful header in the 51st minute. With PSG upping the tempo, Sessegnon had an effort saved and Rothen struck the post with an angled shot. By that time Guillaume Hoarau had replaced Luyindula and another striker, Mateja Kežman, entered the fray for the final 21 minutes. The Serbian – in his first game back after a recent club suspension – was to narrowly miss the target twice, while at the other end Édel kept out Luis Burgos' low drive.