PSG had the ball, but fewer chances than usual against Troyes
Paris Saint Germain1 – 0Estac Troyes 
Ilya Zabarnyi's goal settled a 1-0 win at the Parc des Princes, where Paris Saint Germain had far more of the ball than Estac Troyes but fewer clear chances than they usually create.
Ilya Zabarnyi, a centre-back, was the man who decided this one. He scored on 39 minutes after Senny Mayulu had set him up, and that goal was the only one at the Parc des Princes. It was enough for Paris Saint Germain to beat Estac Troyes 1-0 and keep their place at the top of Ligue 1.
Most of the ball belonged to the home side. Paris Saint Germain had 74 per cent of possession, which means the share of time a team spends in control of the ball, against a home average of 64.1 per cent this season. Troyes had 26 per cent, well short of the 38.8 per cent they usually manage on the road. Passing told the same story, with Paris Saint Germain completing 806 of their 857 passes and Troyes completing 242 of 295.
Ball possession
Having the ball did not produce the usual number of chances, though. Paris Saint Germain had 15 shots, below the 18.1 they average at home but above the league figure of 12.8 per team. Only 7 of those shots were on target. Their expected goals, a score that rates how good each chance was, came to 1.64, under their home average of 2.1. Troyes had 8 shots, against an away average of 13.3, and an expected goals figure of 0.71, below the 0.93 they usually reach away and roughly half the league figure of 1.42 per side.
The goalkeepers shaped how much the scoreline meant. Konaté made six saves for Troyes, which kept the margin at one goal despite a steady stream of shots on target. Safonov made three saves at the other end, and Paris Saint Germain did not concede. Their clean sheet came against a home average of 1.1 goals conceded per game, so it was a result they did not always get at the Parc des Princes this season.
Goals were scarce on both sides. Paris Saint Germain scored once, against a home average of 2.3, while Troyes failed to score, against an away average of 0.8. The match total of one goal sat far below the league average of 3 per game, which tells us this was a game of few openings rather than an open one. Most of the late action came from changes, with Paris Saint Germain bringing on players at 70 and 86 minutes.
The discipline and set-pieces leaned towards the home side. Zabarnyi was booked on 34 minutes, before his goal, and Troyes picked up two yellow cards, one on 79 minutes and one on 86. Paris Saint Germain won six corners to Troyes' one, while Troyes were caught offside six times against one for the home side. Those details fit a visiting side that spent long periods without the ball.
Paris Saint Germain's form at home is strong. Their last six home games have all been wins, and they have scored in each of them. Troyes have a harder run away from home, with one win, one draw and four defeats in their last six road matches. They leave Paris 16th in the table on 8 points, having conceded 16 goals in their away games this season.
Senny Mayulu1 assist
H. Konaté6 saves
I. Zabarnyi1 goal
Fabián Ruiz1 chance created