This was the tie both sides said they had wanted, with each viewing the other as the best bet for a Champions League future, writes Jon West.

David Beckham made his Paris St Germain debut last night as Carlo Ancelotti’s men took a potentially vital step towards claiming the Ligue 1 title.

Marseille midfielder Joey Barton has apologised to his team-mates for his red card in last night’s 1-0 Ligue 1 loss at home to lowly Nancy, and admitted he was “partly responsible” for the shock result.

Joey Barton was sent off for the first time since moving to France last night as Marseille slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom club Nancy.

A list of all the confirmed deadline day signings so far.

Manchester United are favourites to swoop for Crystal Palace’s highly-coveted winger Wilfried Zaha.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is set to end his frustration in the transfer market with the capture of defenders Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Massadio Haidara from French clubs Montpellier and Nancy respectively.

Sunderland have completed the signing of midfielder Alfred N’Diaye from Bursaspor for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club confirmed today.

Sunderland have agreed a fee with Turkish side Bursaspor for France Under-21 midfielder Alfred N’Diaye, it is understood.

The French Football Federation will hope to make progress today in their search for a successor to former Les Bleus coach Laurent Blanc.

Nancy midfielder Bakaye Traore has revealed he will be an AC Milan player next season.

France

WHAT comes after the last-chance saloon?

Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal fans not to expect Gunners legend Thierry Henry to hit the ground running after returning to the club on a short-term loan.

Nice beat Lyon 1-0 after extra-time in the only all-Ligue 1 tie of today’s Coupe de France last-32 action.

Holland striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar headed out of AC Milan on transfer deadline day, with Robinho poised to replace him.

Arsene Wenger has signed a contract extension with Arsenal, tying him to the club until June 2014.

Celtic’s hopes of making Landry Nguemo’s loan move permanent appear to have been dashed after they failed to meet Nancy’s valuation of the player.

Nancy defender Jean Calve has told Celtic they can sign him for nothing.

Landry NGuemo has urged Celtic to make his loan move from Nancy permanent before he goes to the World Cup.

FULL-BACK Aly Cissokho has backed Lyon to complete a “difficult” Champions League quarter-final win over Bordeaux – and claims his side have the quality required to go on and win the competition.

Celtic 3 St Johnstone 0

Celtic 1 Dundee United 0

TONY MOWBRAY watched his threadbare squad go within seven points of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers with a 4-1 win at St Johnstone yesterday, then revealed he has players ready to come back to increase the pressure on the Ibrox men.

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 4

Nancy striker Floyd Ayite admits he does not know when he will return to playing after experiencing tragedy with the Togo team on Friday.

TONY MOWBRAY claimed his side’s dramatic Europa League comeback to draw 3-3 against Rapid Vienna in the Ernst Happel Stadium last night epitomised the spirit of the Parkhead club.

Rapid Vienna 3 Celtic 3

Motherwell 2 Celtic 3

Celtic 2 Hapoel Tel Aviv 0

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has closed the door on a move for Republic of Ireland U-21 international James McCarthy.

Celtic have signed Landry N’Guemo on a season-long loan from French club Nancy.

Nancy midfielder Landry N’Guemo is set to seal a season-long loan move to Celtic on Monday.

Celtic have completed the signing of striker Marc-Antoine Fortune from French side Nancy.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has assured his new players he will give them time to prove themselves before moving anyone on.

Tony Mowbray hopes to make Marc-Antoine Fortune his first Celtic signing in the next 48 hours after confirming Paul Hartley and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink have left the club.

Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune appears set to move to Hull.

Celtic coach Peter Grant has admitted Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune is one of new manager Tony Mowbray’s main transfer targets.

Celtic have been told they will have to pay more than £3m to land Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Celtic will aim to confirm Tony Mowbray as their new manager today after being given permission to speak to the West Brom manager.

LYON coach Claude Puel has labelled Barcelona “the best team in the world” ahead of tonight’s match between the two sides in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 title hopes suffered a further setback tonight as they were held to a draw by struggling Grenoble at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

West Brom have further boosted their attacking options by making Marc-Antoine Fortune their second January signing.

Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune claims he is on the verge of joining West Brom.