David Beckham Watch
David Beckham made his Paris St Germain debut Sunday as Carlo Ancelotti's men took a potentially vital step towards claiming the Ligue 1 title.
The capital club saw off fellow challengers Marseille 2-0 thanks to Lucas Moura's deflected first-half goal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic`s late clincher.
Ultimately, though, it was the presence of Beckham that stole the show, with the former England captain a 76th-minute replacement for Javier Pastore.
Here is a look at his impact.
Reception
Having worn out the touchline during a vigorous warming-up routine, Beckham was given a rapturous ovation when he shook hands with Pastore with 14 minutes remaining.
First touch
Beckham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box, took a touch right and curled a brilliant pass out to the right wing for Moura. His next touch, however, saw him give away a foul.
Position and contribution
The 37-year-old immediately stationed himself deep in the centre of midfield, sitting not far ahead of the centre-halves. From there he tried to find his range of passing, advancing down field as he did so. A brilliant outside-of-the-boot chip in injury time started the move which saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic seal a 2-0 win.
Beckham vs Barton
Much had been made in the build-up about the possibility of Beckham locking horns with another Englishman abroad, Joey Barton, but the pair did little more than shake hands at the end of the game.
Overall
Beckham celebrated Moura`s goal with his fellow substitutes and then enjoyed the adulation when he came on, with PSG thankful for his experienced head as the game drew to a close, especially as he played a part in the second goal.
With several other big games ahead at home and abroad, Beckham could play a key role between now and May.