The Ligue 1 leaders looked to be strolling into the quarter-finals when they took the lead in the 10th minute through Ezequiel Lavezzi and his Argentina team mate Javier Pastore added a second goal two minutes before halftime.

Valencia improved after coach Ernesto Valverde made a couple of changes at the break and it was no more than they deserved when centre back Adil Rami surged into the area and volleyed home in the 90th minute.

Ibrahimovic was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on defender Andres Guardado in the second minute of added time but even without the Sweden striker for the return leg in Paris on March 6, PSG will still be favourites to progress.

PSG's latest signing, former England captain David Beckham, watched from the stands and will return to the French capital with the squad on Wednesday for his first training session.

Valencia had more of the ball in the early stages without really threatening Salvatore Sirigu's goal and were dealt a blow when Lavezzi exchanged passes with Pastore before racing past his marker into the area and blasting the ball into the net.

Lucas, who struck a long-range effort against a post moments before Lavezzi's goal, then set up the second goal.

The Brazilian burst into the box from the right and pulled the ball back for fellow midfielder Pastore to send a first-time shot past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Valverde hauled off ineffective midfield pair Ever Banega and Jonas at halftime, throwing playmaker Sergio Canales and forward Nelson Valdez into the fray.

The effect was immediate as the home side looked significantly more dangerous going forward but PSG were waiting to catch Valencia on the break and Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic went close to adding a third before the Swede was dismissed.

"It is a poor result for us but we have some hope and we will try to turn things around in Paris," Canales told Spanish television broadcaster TVE.

"We knew they would be dangerous going forward but we'll have to see if we can take some of our chances in the second leg.

"We'll try to go on the attack and score early to get back in the tie. We know it will be tough but we're not going to throw in the towel."

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)