Unai Simon helps Athletic Bilbao shut out Paris St Germain in European stalemate

Paris St Germain drew a blank for the second time in three outings as they were held to a goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

Luis Enrique’s side had scored in all but one of their first 19 games in all competitions this season but, 11 days after losing 1-0 to Monaco in Ligue 1, they failed to trouble the scorers in Europe.

The Parisians certainly created enough chances to win the game, especially in the second half, but Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon was in fine form while Bradley Barcola hit the crossbar with the best opportunity of the game.

The draw leaves the Ligue 1 champions just a point clear of ninth place in the battle to avoid a play-off.

Nobody has scored more than PSG’s 19 goals in the Champions League this season, but – missing Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele through illness – they could not add to that tally in the Basque Country.

In a fast-paced half of few chances, Fabian Ruiz shot over twice for the visitors while Oihan Sancet could not keep his effort down after being teed up by Gorka Guruzeta at the other end.

The best chance of the period fell to PSG in stoppage time when Warren Zaire-Emery’s ball in from the right was swept goalwards first time by Senny Mayulu but Simon got down well to stop.

It was a sign of things to come as PSG dominated after half-time.

Simon was called into action again to deny Mayulu after the ball ran to the unmarked striker from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross.

Kvaratskhelia then teed up Zaire-Emery, whose powerful shot from the edge of the area was parried away by Simon, before the Georgian had an effort of his own that curled narrowly wide of the target.

Barcola was the next to go close as he burst clear down the left in the 65th minute but then crashed an effort off the crossbar from close range.

Luis Enrique threw on Desire Doue and then Goncalo Ramos in search of the elusive opener.

But Athletic grew in confidence as the game progressed and went close to a goal themselves in the 80th minute when Alex Berenguer curled a shot over the crossbar.

Simon was called into action again with three minutes left as he denied Ruiz, whose scuffed follow up was cleared off the line by Yuri Berchiche as Athletic held on to pick up their fifth point from six Champions League games.