Just as PSG was preparing to start the Ligue 1 season with a win Montpellier equalised deep into stoppage time as the game finished 1-1.

Right up until the final seconds, Antoine Kombouaré’s seemed assured of the three points. But Spahic’s header saw René Girard’s players earn a share of the spoils. A shame, because PSG had done the hardest part in opening the scoring against a combative Montpellier side.

It was in the south of France, at Montpellier, back in Ligue 1 after a five-year absence, that PSG began their 2009-10 season. Right from the outset, Les Rouge et Bleu looked in control and Peguy Luyindula let fly with the first shot of the match –off target (4’). The locals responded through Marveaux, whose long-range effort failed to test Gregory Coupet in the PSG goal (16’).

There was plenty of commitment and desire shown by both sides, highlighted by the coming together of Claude Makelele and Jeunechamp (19’) which resulted in both players being cautioned. It was to have a resounding consequence on the match when Jeunechamp received a second yellow card and was sent off for a tackle from behind on Ludo Giuly (33’). Playing with 11 against ten, PSG got the upper hand and went within centimetres of scoring when Mevlut Erding fired at Jourdren before Ludo Giuly saw his follow up effort cleared off the line by Spahic (34’).

Despite another last chance before the half-time whistle as Erding through himself at a Giuly cross (44’), the two sides headed for the half-time break tied at nil-all. After the break it was a far more even affair with Girard’s hosts close to finding the opening goal through Camara’s header, saved by Coupet (69’). Claude Makelele then decided to take matters into his own hands with a long-range effort which surprised Jourdren. The Montpellier ‘keeper could only push the ball back out where Ludo Giuly arrived to side-foot home into the empty net (0-1; 71’).

With the final whistle just moments away, PSG were heading for a winning start when Spahic struck with that telling header at the back post (1-1; 93’). Les Rouge et Bleu left the Hérault region with a solitary point before hosting Le Mans to the Parc des Princes next weekend where the three points, will again be up for grabs.