Neymar and Cavani extend PSG’s lead to 10 points
PARIS: Neymar conjured up a moment of magic as French League leaders Paris St Germain beat Troyes 2-0 to pull 10 points clear of Marseille at the summit.
PSG thrashed Troyes 9-0 the last time the sides met in March 2016, but Edinson Cavani saw his first-half penalty saved by Mamadou Samassa at the Parc des Princes.
Unai Emery’s side appeared to be running out of ideas and heading towards their first dropped points at home this term before Neymar crashed in a terrific left-footed strike to break the deadlock in the 73rd minute.
Cavani then atoned for his missed spot-kick by wrapping up victory in the final minute as he netted for a league-best 17th time this season, the Uruguayan scoring for the seventh game in a row.
“Edi (Cavani) and Neymar didn’t have their best day and they managed to score goals like that, they are great players and we’re lucky to have them here,” PSG midfielder Marco Verratti told Canal+.
“Neymar is one of the best players in the world and can do something good for the team at any moment. He scored a very important goal.”
Earlier, Florian Thauvin starred as Marseille moved second after cruising to a 3-0 victory at lowly Metz, while Lyon lost to managerless Lille and Monaco were beaten at Nantes.
Rudi Garcia’s Marseille are now unbeaten in 10 league games, while Lyon and Monaco sit two points further behind with Bruno Genesio’s men third, above the champions on goal difference.
Lille claimed a shock 2-1 away victory over in-form Lyon in their second game since suspending head coach Marcelo Bielsa, as home skipper Nabil Fekir missed a second-half penalty on his return from illness.
Reigning champions Monaco suffered a third straight defeat in all competitions as Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes grabbed a 1-0 win with an injury-time winner.
Looking to bounce back from their 2-1 loss to PSG at the weekend, Monaco were hit by a sucker-punch as fullback Lima drilled in from the edge of the area in the third minute of added time.
Mario Balotelli’s penalty helped 10-man Nice come from behind to win 2-1 at Toulouse, as Tunisian Bassem Srarfi’s last-gasp strike pulled the away side clear of the relegation zone.