Paris Saint-Germain needed a late goal after a resilient second-half display from Metz to clinch a 3-2 win in Ligue 1 this evening.
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Metz looked sharp in the opening five minutes, but it was PSG who took the lead when Javier Pastore rounded a couple of defenders before unleashing a powerful finish.
It did not take the French champions long to double their advantage as Maxwell won a free kick from a dangerous position, which Gaetan Bussmann tried to block, but ended up turning it into his own net.
Florent Malouda and Guirane N'Daw both had chances to reduce the deficit for Metz before the end of the first half, but both failed to test Salvatore Sirigu.
The hosts did get a goal back just a few minutes into the second half though when Sergei Krivets was brought down by Adrien Rabiot in the box, leaving Modibo Maiga to fire the ball in from the penalty spot.
The West Ham loanee had another opportunity from the spot just a few minutes later after Gregory van der Wiel handled the ball in the area, leaving the striker to smash the ball past Sirigu again with a similar penalty to his first.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic tried to restore PSG's lead with a header from close range after Maxwell made a break down the left flank, but the Sweden international saw his finish blocked.
Maiga almost completed his hat-trick moments later when Romain Metanire played him in, but this time Sirigu was ready for his strike, and did enough to keep the visitors level.
Despite their comeback, Metz appeared to tire as the end of the 90 minutes approached, allowing PSG to dominate the final 10 minutes.
They eventually let the visitors through again, with Ezequiel Lavezzi pulling the ball back for Ibrahimovic, who sent it a low drive, before the Argentine guided it over the line.
Johann Carrasso had to make a double save moments later to stop PSG adding a third, denying Ibrahimovic and Blaise Matuidi late on.
The result moves PSG to the top of the Ligue 1 table, while Metz stay ninth.
Sian Cowper
