Neymar and PSG begin vital month in style

PARIS: A superb Neymar free-kick helped Paris St Germain to a 3-0 win at troubled Lille as the Ligue 1 leaders began a decisive month.

The world’s most expensive player netted the second goal at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday after Yuri Berchiche had opened the scoring just prior to half-time.

Giovani Lo Celso’s delightful chip secured the victory late on, with PSG now 11 points clear of Marseille at the top of the table.

PSG have won 12 of their last 13 games in all competitions, including four in a row since their 2-1 defeat at Lyon last month.

Their season-defining Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid is fast approaching, with the first leg to come in the Spanish capital on Feb 14.

PSG coach Unai Emery will hope to have the likes of Adrien Rabiot, Julian Draxler and Thiago Motta back fit for that game, while Kylian Mbappe will almost certainly start at the Bernabeu.

The teenage France forward was absent here due to suspension after being sent off in the 3-2 League Cup semi-final win at Rennes in midweek.

That meant Angel Di Maria once again started alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani in attack, but the Uruguayan was unable to add to his club record tally of 157 goals.

Spaniard Berchiche was handed a start ahead of Layvin Kurzawa at leftback and he broke the deadlock right on half-time, drilling home after a poor attempted clearance by Junior Alonso fell to him.

Christophe Galtier’s side had looked set to go into the break on level terms before Berchiche struck, and they were upset that Cavani was not flagged offside in the buildup to that goal.

Just 13 minutes remained when Neymar effectively ended the game as a contest, finding the top-left corner with a free-kick from right on the edge of the area in a central position.