Business as usual
Leaders PSG back on track with victory over managerless Lille
PARIS: Runaway leaders Paris St Germain shook off the absence of the suspended Neymar to end their recent wobble with a 3-1 win over managerless Lille in Ligue 1.
Angel Di Maria nodded in a cross from Kylian Mbappe on 28 minutes at a chilly Parc des Princes, with Javier Pastore powering in a second just after half-time.
Anwar El Ghazi gave Lille, who suspended manager Marcelo Bielsa last month and replaced him with a team of four interim coaches, a glimmer of hope by pulling a goal back four minutes from time.
But with goalkeeper Mike Maignan up for a last-gasp corner, Mbappe burst free of the Lille backline after the ball was cleared upfield to dribble in a third as PSG ended a run of back-to-back defeats.
“We needed this win after the last two defeats to get our rhythm back and regain confidence,” PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe told Canal Plus.
“We’ve done that today and we’re very pleased.
“Criticism in football is normal. Everyone is used to these kinds of things and it drew a reaction from us.”
The win kept kept Unai Emery’s team nine points clear of reigning champions Monaco – 3-2 winners at home to Troyes – at the top and ensured PSG will head into the new year in first place in France.
“There’s still a long way to go, and the most important thing will be after 38 matches,” added Kimpembe.
‘I’m happy with the display,” said Emery, who remains unbeaten at home since taking over as PSG coach in June of last year.
“We controlled the match better than in our last two league games, against Troyes and Strasbourg.”
Striker Guido Carrillo came off the bench to rescue Monaco with two late goals against Troyes.
South Korea striker Suk Hyun-jun struck twice to put the visitors 2-0 up after 50 minutes.
After an own goal from defender Mathieu Deplagne gave Monaco a lifeline with 20 minutes remaining, Carrillo pounced with close-range finishes in the 84th and 88th minutes.
It was a welcome win for Monaco, who this week went out of the group stages of the Champions League having reached the semi-finals last season. — Agencies