Cavani gifted a goal as Paris St Germain beats struggling Nancy 2-1

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is in prolific scoring form these days and hardly needs any help from his opponents.

But Nancy’s clumsy defense set up his goal in a gritty 2-1 away win in the French league on Saturday that keeps second-placed PSG four points behind surprise leader Nice.

It was a poor performance from defending champion PSG, which was dominated in midfield by two veterans playing for the lastplaced side.

But Nancy’s defense was in charitable mood and PSG was already leading 1-0 when Cavani struck in the 18th minute.

Center back Michael Chretien casually headed an intended back pass straight into his path, and Cavani sprinted through before calmly lobbing goalkeeper Guy N’Dy Assembe for his 12th goal in 10 games this season.

Cavani will never enjoy the popularity of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined Manchester United after becoming the French club’s all-time leading scorer in just four seasons. But the Uruguay forward is winning fans over with goals, and has 16 in 14 matches so far this season for club and country.

With a combined age of 70, Nancy’s midfielders Alou Diarra and Benoit Pedretti - both former France internationals - showed their teammates how to play.

Pedretti’s precision free-kick from the right was met with a powerful header from Diarra who played in the World Cup final for France against Italy 10 years ago - as Nancy replied in the 55th.

But the damage was already done, which Nancy will regret as PSG looked vulnerable.

PSG’s first goal came in the 13th minute as Brazilian winger Lucas scored in bizarre fashion.

Lucas took a free-kick way out on the left and the curling ball eluded Cavani and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak as they lunged for it - and then bounced in front of N’Dy Assembe, who stood still as the ball rolled in.

PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola started the move for the second goal, launching a long clearance that Chretien naively nodded back without anticipating Cavani’s presence.

“We paid for our poor start to the game. They were errors of concentration,” Diarra said. “It’s a shame because we reacted well.”

PSG’s two defeats this season have been away to Toulouse and third-placed Monaco. They played each other Friday, with Toulouse winning 3-1 to move up to fourth. Also Friday, Nice beat Lyon 2-0.