Beckham sits it out as PSG advance to the quarter-finals

Paris St Germain 1 Valencia 1 (PSG win 3-2 on agg): Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi salvaged a 1-1 home draw for Paris St Germain, who overcame Valencia 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years last night.

After a first half short on entertainment, Valencia made the tie interesting when Brazilian Jonas put the Spaniards ahead with a superb 25-metre strike on 55 minutes.

Qatar-backed PSG, without suspended top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic who was sent off late in the first leg, equalised 11 minutes later when Lavezzi scored at the second attempt after his initial shot was parried back to him by keeper Vicente Guaita.

Valencia were forced to make do with a makeshift defence with centre backs Adil Rami and Ricardo Costa both injured, and fullback Joao Pereira ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury during training on Tuesday.

The visiting back four, however, were barely threatened by a disappointing PSG side.

PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to make a change when Gregory van der Wiel came on for injured right back Christophe Jallet in the 27th minute.

Valencia had the upper hand but Thiago Silva, back from a two-month injury layoff, perfectly marshalled the PSG defence.

PSG were eventually punished when Jonas unleashed a powerful shot that went into the far corner, his fifth goal in the competition.

Ancelotti added weight to his front line by replacing midfielder Thiago Motta with striker Kevin Gameiro who had an almost immediate impact.

He dribbled his way into the area and as he was closed down by three defenders, the ball fell to Lavezzi who scored at the second attempt.

Former England captain David Beckham, who signed a short-term deal with PSG in January, will have to wait to make his first Champions League appearance since 2010 with AC Milan after Ancelotti opted to leave the midfielder on the bench.